ASHLAND, Ky. - The Indiana University Kokomo women's tennis team opened the spring portion of their 2024-2025 season Sunday afternoon, traveling to Kentucky to battle Shawnee State in the River States Conference opener.

Doubles Courts:
Led by experienced Head Coach Kristine Miller and asssistant Andrea Saylor, the Cougars opened the match in a big way, dropping just four total games across the three doubles courts. Miller and Saylor also had the help of Breanna Koester, who is working back from injury and serving as an avid supporter of her teammates and a helper to her coaches.

The #2 doubles pairing of Chloe Schmidt/Sophia Davidson and the #3 doubles pairing of Kennedy Perrin/Mia Federspill each dropped just one game en-route to 6-1 wins, clinching the doubles point for IU Kokomo. Davidson's strategic efforts were on full display in the win, as her determination she showcases often was on full display.

At #1 doubles, Ava Allen/Reiley Hiser came together to win 6-2, making it a sweep of the doubles courts.

Singles Courts:
Having settled into the groove of college tennis, junior Chloe Schmidt dropped just two games at #4 singles, getting off the court quickly with a dominant performance both mentally and physically. Coach Miller mentioned that her ability to battle through the ups and downs has been impressive.

Freshman Graciela Solis entered the fray for singles play, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Shawnee State's Maggie Clark at #6 singles with her wide variety of shot selection being used wisely while on full display. 

Senior captain Reiley Hiser made her long awaited return from a devastating injury suffered last summer, earning a 7-5, 6-3 victory at #2 singles. Hiser's relentless rehab efforts payed off after missing all of the fall season.

Sophomore Kennedy Perrin found success Sunday after putting herself through a busy offseason, playing 5-6 days a week. Perrin's offseason efforts payed off, as she moved up the lineup and won 6-3, 6-2 at #3 singles over Shawnee State's McKenzie Harman.

Ava Allen's resilience was on full display in her match at #1 singles, dropping the first set before responding in a big way to take sets two and three. Her 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory is a result of the offseason work and the way in which she carries herself.

At #5 singles, Mia Federspill emerged victorious after dedicating her offseason to getting physically stronger and increasing endurance. Despite being a freshman, Federspill handled the pressure of being the last one on court well, winning a three-set thriller 6-4, 3-6, 11-9 over a player with a similar style, sealing a 7-0 shutout victory for the Cougars. 

Head Coach Kristine Miller had this to say after the win: "I've been very thankful for how seriously the girls took the off-season and put in the work. It was nice to see the efforts pay off in the first match of the spring."

In order to view a complete box score, click HERE.

The Cougars will next be in action this Sunday at NCAA Division III foe Rose-Hulman. First-serve is set for 11:00 AM inside the Terre Haute Tennis & Pickleball Center.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.