Romeoville, Ill. - The 2011-12 school year was a season to remember for the Lewis University women's tennis team, as the Flyers won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship and Midwest Regional Tournament Title.
 
With the regional championship, the Flyers advanced to the 'Sweet 16' of the NCAA Division II National Tournament and finished the season with a program-best No. 22 national ranking.
 
Oh and by the way, the Flyers managed a 3.62 cumulative grade point average in the process.
 
The bar has been set for all future Lewis women's tennis teams and head coach Brett Bridel believes that the 2013 squad has the ability to live up to those lofty goals.
 
Leading the charge for the Flyers will be the return of juniors Zsofia Lanstiak (Budapest, Hungary/Karinthy Frigyes Gimnazium) (Budapest, Hungary/Karinthy Frigyes Gimnazium) and Zsofia Kranczicki (Eger, Hungary/Szilagyi Erzsebet Gimnazium es Kollegium) (Eger, Hungary/Szilagyi Erzsebet Gimnazium es Kollegium).
 
The Hungarian duo enters the spring ranked fourth in the country as a doubles team, while Lanstiak is 27^th in the country and second in the Midwest Region in singles play. Kranczicki is ranked 13^th overall in the Midwest Region for singles action.
 
Last season, Lanstiak was 36-2 in singles play and a combined 36-3 in doubles action on her way to the GLVC Player of the Year and finish the season ranked No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 25 in the nation. She also paired with Kranczicki to finish third overall at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.
 
“Zso is an exceptionally skilled tennis player and athlete,” Bridel said. “She had a great season after coming back from wrist surgery. 
 
“I believe we will see more of the same from Zso this season as she is playing very well.”
 
Kranczicki finished last season with a record of 35-5 in singles play and a combined 31-9 in doubles action on her way to All-GLVC accolades. She finished the season ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region and 34^th in the nation in singles action. The Hungarian native handed Lanstiak her only two singles losses last year.
 
“Zsofia has been battling some injuries but she continues to work hard to improve her tennis game,” Bridel said. “Along with her extreme talent, her tennis IQ continues to increase, and that makes her a much more difficult opponent.”
 
Lewis junior Kendra Mills (Elmhurst, Ill./York) (Elmhurst, Ill./York) returns to the Flyer line-up after winning a combined 32 matches (14 singles; 18 doubles) last season. Her most impressive win was a match-clinching 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles over Northwood to clinch the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship for the Flyers.
 
“Kendra Mills (Elmhurst, Ill./York) was a very steady performer and critical to the team's success last spring,” Bridel said.  “She is always so focused and calm in those “big” moments and that experience will help her this spring.”
 
Lewis sophomore Brianna Markgraf (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) made quite the impression in her rookie campaign, as she finished the season with a singles mark of 16-17 and was a combined 22-13 in doubles play. She and Kranczicki were ranked as high as No. 9 in the Midwest Region as a doubles tandem.
 
“Brianna has grown a lot as a collegiate tennis player and I expect her to have a very good season this spring.,” Bridel said. “She is great to work with and so much fun to be around.”
 
Bridel's newcomers include freshmen Megan Nguyen (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora) (Germantown, Ill./Metamora) and Jill Wetmore (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa) (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa).
 
Nguyen was a two-time Illinois State qualifier in both singles and doubles action, while competing for Metamora High School. Wetmore finished her high school career with a singles record of 87-21 and a combined doubles mark of 45-12 for Ottawa High School where she was a two-time IHSA state qualifier in singles play and a doubles qualifier as a freshman.  
 
“I am really happy to have added both Megan and Jill to the Flyers tennis program, Bridel said. “They both possess a lot of raw skill and have been working diligently on their tennis games. 
 
“As they continue to get collegiate match experience, they will make great strides and help us out tremendously.”
 
Lewis opens the 2013 spring campaign against Michigan Tech on Friday (Feb. 22). First serve is set for 1:30 PM at Challenge Fitness, located in Lockport, Illinois.