Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University women's tennis team is not going to sneak up on anyone this year.

In 2011, Lewis advanced to the Great Lakes Valley Conference finals with a starting line-up that featured three freshmen and a sophomore in the Flyers' starting line-up.

Two of those freshmen, Zsofia Kranczicki (Eger, Hungary/Szilagyi Erzsebet Gimnazium es Kollegium) (Eger, Hungary/Szilagyi Erzsebet Gimnazium es Kollegium) and Zsofia Lanstiak (Budapest, Hungary/Karinthy Frigyes Gimnazium) (Budapest, Hungary/Karinthy Frigyes Gimnazium) proved to be the catalysts for the Flyers' success, as they combined for a record of 48-5 in singles play and 37-14 in doubles action.

Kranczicki, who placed eighth overall in singles play at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships this past Fall, is No. 23 in the country and No. 1 in the Midwest Region. Lanstiak, who was a runner-up to Kranczicki in the ITA Midwest Region Final, is ranked No. 35 in the nation and No. 2 in the Midwest Region.

That duo is ranked third in the country in doubles play, following their third-place finish at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.

Lewis head women's tennis coach Brett Bridel cannot overstate enough how much of an impact that the Hungarian natives have had on his squad.

“We've been very competitive ever since (the Zsofi's) arrived,” Bridel said. “They're as good as some of the top players that have dominated our conference and region for a while.”

Their arrival has helped the rest of the Flyers change their approach in preparing for their matches.  

“We started to believe in ourselves,” Bridel said. “We certainly have the big guns at the top, and that helps the whole team.”

Kranczicki, who was selected as the ITA/Midwest Region Rookie of the Year, went 28-3 in singles action and 19-7 in doubles play. For her efforts, she was selected as the GLVC Freshman of the Year.

“(Zsofi) is a stalwart force for our team,” Bridel said. “She was always consistent and performed at a high level for us, week in and week out."

Lanstiak also earned All-GLVC honors as a freshman, following her 20-2 singles performance and 18-7 record in doubles play despite battling a wrist injury all season.

“I think the injury helped (Zsofi) in the long run,” Bridel said. “She was nowhere near 100% last year, but it forced her to play a different style and use different shots than she would normally play.”

Bridel feels that Lanstiak could compete at an even higher level this season than she did as a freshman. The only matches she lost in the Fall came against Kranczicki.

“(Zso's) wrist is close to 100%, so she can play her normal game and she still can use those other shots if she needs to,” Bridel said.  “She had a really good Fall and by the end of the season, she was probably our best player.”

With Kranzcicki and Lanstiak back in the fold, the rest of the Midwest Region has been put on notice, as the Flyers are ranked No. 5 in the ITA Pre-Season Midwest Regional Rankings.

“We basically have the same team back,” Bridel said. “I feel the experience our team got last year and this past Fall, leads us to believe that we should be competitive and we have the talent to make another run.”

One of the most experienced Flyers is senior Katie Hargrove (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon). Hargrove competed primarily at No. 3 singles for Lewis last year and finished with a singles mark of 12-13 and 4-1 in conference action.

“(Katie) has been a real pleasant surprise for us here at Lewis,” Bridel said. “She's building on that experience she had over the last three years.

“Katie will be a vital player for our success this Spring,” Bridel continued. “With all the experience she's had, she keeps getting more mentally tough and continues to get more physically fit.

“She really wants to have a good final season.”

Hargrove's classmate, senior Bayley Brown (Evansville, Ind./Evansville Central) (Evansville, Ind./Evansville Central) also figures to make her final season a memorable one for herself and the Flyers. Last year, Brown finished with singles record of 8-5 with a mark of 4-1 in GLVC action, primarily at No. 5. In doubles play, Brown was a combined 11-4 with both Lanstiak and Hargrove.

“(Bayley) has a very natural stroke,” Bridel said. “She played really well at the end of last season, and I think that is going to carry into this year.”

Sophomore Kendra Mills (Elmhurst, Ill./York) (Elmhurst, Ill./York) was 12-12 in singles play for Lewis as a freshman, including a mark of 3-2 in GLVC action. Mills played a key role in helping Lewis advance to the GLVC Championship last year, as she rallied for a three-set win against Rockhurst to help Lewis clinch the 5-3 win over the Hawks.

“(Kendra) had a few matches come down to her, and I thought she came out of those well,” Bridel said. “I think that year of experience in some of those really tight matches will be really helpful for her.

“She's really looking forward to the season.”

Bridel has brought in freshman Brianna Markgraf (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) (Rockford, Ill./Boyland Catholic) and the Rockford, Illinois native has fit right in with the squad. During the Fall season, Markgraf owned a singles record of 4-6 and teamed up with Mills for a doubles mark of 4-7.

“(Brianna) is super athletic and the most fit player on our team,” Bridel said. “I think that helps push the other (players).”
“She's improving her game everyday, but I think she's going to be great for us this spring.”

Barring injury, Bridel believes that his team has a chance to surpass their performance from 2011.

“I think we are a stronger team than we were this time last year,” Bridel said. “I want to win the conference, and I know our team wants that.

“We need that 'want' to translate into execution during our matches,” Bridel continued. “Our goal is to get back to the finals, have another shot, and have a better year than last year.”