BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – For the first time in 25 years, a new head coach will be on the courts with the Geneva College women's tennis program this season.
Nate Heidengren, a former First Team All-PAC player for the Geneva men's tennis team, takes over this fall in place of his former coach, Mandee Craft. In anticipation of the upcoming season, the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released its annual preseason poll, voted on by the coaches, and Geneva was voted to finish seventh overall.
While the Golden Tornadoes finished with a winning record overall last season at 8-7, they struggled at times during conference play, posting a 2-6 record versus PAC opponents. Heidengren will attempt to lead the women to their first winning record in PAC play since the 2019-20 season here in his first year at the helm.
Leading the way for Geneva's team this year will be sophomore
Chloe DeSanzo, the 2024 PAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-PAC selection. DeSanzo burst onto the scene last year, posting a 12-3 record in the No. 1 singles slot as a freshman. Her doubles partner, Second Team All-PAC selection
Lauren Estes, also returns for her senior year. Estes went 11-4 last season in No. 2 singles, and together she and DeSanzo put together an excellent season as the top doubles team for Geneva, going 12-2 as a pair.
Three more seniors -
Jenna Allison,
Sarah Kelly, and
CeJaelyn Perednia - join Estes on the roster this season. Allison and Perednia were both important contributors last year, with Allison splitting time between the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 singles slots, and Perednia playing most matches in the No. 3 doubles flight.
Rachel Hodsden leads a group of five juniors on this year's team. In 2024, she mainly played at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles. Fellow junior
Caroline Reed saw significant action at No. 3 doubles last season as well.
Heidengren has brought in four freshmen this year to bolster the group. With nine of the 14 players on this season's roster set to graduate in the next two years, the development of this year's freshmen will be very important to the future of the program.
The women travel to Carlow on Friday, Aug. 29
th for their first match of the season next week. The match is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Geneva swept Carlow 7-0 in last year's season opener.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
