Dexter girls tennis team returns experience under new head coach

DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter girls tennis program will return ample experience to its varsity squad in the 2013 season.

Four of the six projected starters on the 2013 squad were starters on varsity last season.

"Everyone I foresee to be on varsity played last year," Dexter tennis coach Kurt Lovelady said. "I only have one or two players that didn't compete in the district last year who are going to be on varsity this season."

Lovelady said Erica Morgan, Baylee Cooper, Kendra Stevenson, Taylor Owens, Mary Kate Miller and Makayla Waldner are projected starters on the varsity squad. Waldner and Miller are entering their sophomore season and the remainder of the projected starters will be seniors.

Dexter received the No. 3 seed in its six-team district last season. It was eliminated from the playoffs when it suffered a 5-3 district semifinal loss to second-seeded Notre Dame. Top-seeded Kennett defeated Notre Dame in the district championship and placed fourth in Missouri in Class 1.

"I see us playing close matches with just about everyone," Lovelady said. "I think last year Kennett was a powerhouse everyone had trouble with and we played close with everyone else. Hopefully, us not graduating many will make us more mature and help us tackle some of these other teams better."

Lovelady, who will take over for coach LeeAnn Dooley who retired after the 2012 season, is no stranger to the Dexter tennis program.

"I coached it back in 2007-2008," Lovelady said. "So I've had my feet in there before and I know what to expect."

Lovelady said the team has competed on boxes against each other in practices.

"So far we have been working on our preliminary boxes so the girls know where they stand on the team," he said.

Dexter is slated to compete in two tournaments late in the season. Dexter will compete in the Farmington Tournament Sept. 28 and the Notre Dame Tournament Oct. 5.

"I plan on taking my best two singles and hopefully my best two doubles," Lovelady said of the tournaments. "Hopefully, by the Notre Dame Tournament we will have an idea who we want to take in singles and doubles to the district. We will see how they fare in the Notre Dame Tournament and still have a week after that to rearrange stuff if needed."

Dexter's home opener will be Sept. 4. against Sikeston. Dexter has eight regular season road matches and six home matches this fall.

"I'm excited to be back in tennis and would like people to come out and support these girls," Lovelady said. "It's a fun sport to get involved in."

View a complete Dexter tennis schedule below:

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2013 Dexter Girls Tennis Schedule

Date Opponent Location

8/29 Notre Dame Away

9/3 Charleston Away

9/4 Sikeston Home

9/5 Poplar Bluff Away

9/10 Kennett Home

9/11 Caruthersville Away

9/12 Cape Central Away

9/16 Charleston Home

9/17 Poplar Bluff Home

9/19 Jackson Away

9/23 Farmington Home

9/24 Notre Dame Home

9/28 Farmington Tournament Away

9/30 Kennett Away

10/2 Sikeston Away

10/5 Notre Dame Tournament Away