Kevin Hagenlocher's Men's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #4

Tennis season is starting to wrap up. It’s bittersweet because I’ve had a good season, but I’m ready to have a little more time to focus on school! This past week we played against Carthage College. They were a strong team and handled us 9-0, but many of the matches were competitive. On Tuesday we played our final conference match against Fontbonne. We had to win to hold our spot in conference and advance to the team tournament this Saturday. We did just that beating them 8-1. I had a solid match at number 1 singles, winning 6-2, 6-0.

This weekend we face up against Westminster. This is the second consecutive year we’ve been in this position. Everybody will come out playing to win on Saturday, it should be some great competition. It was looking like there was supposed to be some rain in the forecast but now it's looking like it will be windy. They’re predicting steady 20 mile per hour winds! This will definitely be an interesting weekend. I’ll blog an update with the results and how it was being a SLIAC student-athlete this year.

Until next time,
Kevin Hagenlocher
(about Kevin)

Kevin Hagenlocher's Men's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #3

Hey everybody!

A lot has happened since last time I wrote! We’ve played lots of tennis and school just keeps getting busier and busier. Principia tennis fell to Greenville College 2-7. We competed fairly well but had a tough time with Greenville’s solid doubles game. I won my singles match improving my record in conference to 3-0.

This past weekend was the SLIAC Individual Tournament. Overall Principia competed well compared to previous years. Because of weather we were moved inside to a tennis center in Fulton, Ill., and then to Creve Coeur Racquet Club in St. Louis for the second day. I was the number one seed for the third flight going into the tournament. Although a first round bye made things easier, I had an extremely tight match against Jesse from Greenville in the second round. We ended up have to play a second set and match tiebreak. I won both, with a huge comeback from 2-7 in the match tiebreak. This win launched me into the finals vs. Webster. In the final I was able to get things done with a 6-4, 6-4 victory! I was awarded 1st Team All-Conference. The rest of the team did well too, with no finish below third place!

On Monday we played Webster again. This time they came back on top of their games. I lost my singles match in a match tiebreak - this broke my undefeated streak. Now Prin tennis is working hard to prepare for a solid match against Westminster College in the team tournament. The tourney is still two weeks out, a fair amount of time to pull things together!

We play Fontbonne soon as well as Carthage. Both are good chances to demonstrate what we’ve been working at this whole season. Talk to you guys soon!

-Kevin Hagenlocher
(about Kevin)

Kevin Hagenlocher's Men's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #2

Well it’s been awhile since I’ve given an update. Since last time I posted we’ve had a good amount of matches. We played Missouri Baptist, a tight match that we lost 5-4. That same Saturday we played Concordia Seminary, who we defeated 9-0. We also beat Eureka 9-0 to kick off conference play for the season. This past Friday we traveled down to Westminster for our second conference match. It was a beautiful day to play tennis and although we ultimately lost the match 8-1, there were some signs of good competition. Weston and myself had a solid doubles match at the number 1 spot. We forced a tiebreaker, but went on to lose. I won my singles match 6-0, 6-4 at the number 3 spot. That gives me some good confidence going into the SLIAC individual tournament this upcoming weekend. Yesterday we played Washington University, who is currently the number five nationally ranked team for Division III. Normally they play the bottom half of their lineup against us, but this time the players higher up the ladder on our team played Wash U’s best players. I lost both my doubles and singles match, but came out feeling successful and that I’ve raised my game up another notch. Back to back matches this weekend is making completing schoolwork a little tricky. I’ll sign off but give you guys another update soon! Kevin Hagenlocher (about Kevin)

Kevin Hagenlocher's Men's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #1

Hey Everybody! My name is Kevin Hagenlocher. I’m currently a sophomore at Principia College. Besides Tennis here are some of my other activities; I’m a member of the men’s Varsity Soccer team, PEC (Principia’s Entrepreneurial Club) I speak Spanish and play guitar. I’m a Business major so I’m working to complete my requirements for that as well. We just got back on campus to kick off our spring quarter and that means Tennis Season! Our team had an awesome Spring Break in Orlando, Florida. There we played Berry, Earlham, St. Scholastica, and Oglethorpe University. We had fun playing outdoors for the first time, seeing some tough competition, getting some good sun and team bonding. We were free the second week of spring break to go visit family and friends, many of us stayed in Florida or found another warm SB destination. Having just gotten back from spring break, it’s a little hard to deal with this winter-like weather. We’ve been practicing indoors in Hexberg Tennis Center this week because of the cold. Our women’s team has their first conference match today, so our team is going to support them. The men’s team is preparing for our first conference match against Eureka on Thursday and our two matches this upcoming Saturday. Over the course of my season, I ‘ll be keeping you guys updated on how we do as I team, how tennis is a part of my life, and what it’s like to balance school, athletics, and a social life as a college student. Hopefully it will be apparent that all of these aspects are a big part of my life and are preparing me for life after college. Now you know a little bit about me! Kevin Hagenlocher (about Kevin)

Amelia Kirby's Women's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #4

Hello Everyone! I cannot believe it has been SNOWING! I am certainly not a cold weather person. We were supposed to go to Greenville Friday and Saturday for the Greenville Tournament but unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, it was cancelled. I had a Spanish and Sociology test scheduled for Friday, but I had rearranged them due to our tennis matches. I must admit, I slacked on studying because I believed I would have more time to make them up. I found out at practice Thursday the Greenville Tournament was cancelled, but I had a Student Senate subcommittee meeting at 5:15, then we counted ballots for the Student Senate Presidential Election (congratulations to Jonathan Milton, by the way) then I had Spanish lab and finally our official Student Senate meeting. I didn’t get back to my room until 10:30. I knew I would have to take my tests the next morning, and if I didn’t, I would be penalized. I wish we could have played this weekend, but Blackburn was hosting “stay overs” and my roommate and I were selected to house a recruit for Friday night. I can only imagine how grumpy I would have been to be at a match all day, then to hang out until the wee hours of the morning and get up to play more tennis. We have a match on Tuesday at Principia and I’ll be playing #5 singles and #3 doubles with Kami Brimberry. It’s still chilly out, mostly cloudy. We have another match at Webster on Thursday and a Triangular Match on Saturday. Be not afraid of death, be afraid of the un-lived life. Amelia C. Kirby (about Amelia)

Amelia Kirby's Women's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #3

Hello everyone!

This past Saturday we played Eureka at 9:00 am and Maryville at 3:00 pm. I was ranked #4 singles and #3 doubles. I was supposed to play singles and doubles against Eureka, but they only brought four girls. That only allowed for 2 doubles teams, and a win by forfeit. I won my singles match against Sarah Dvorsky 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Our match lasted almost 2 hours, and we went to deuce four or more times on almost every point. I was unable to play against Maryville because of a wedding, but overall Blackburn defeated Eureka 8-1 and lost to Maryville 5-4.

We play Lewis & Clark on Monday. I'm glad because an athlete on their tennis team was on our team last year. I'm looking forward to seeing Dylan and having a friendly little competition between ol’ college pals. I most likely won’t play against Lewis & Clark because I rolled my ankle during my singles match against Eureka.

As I mentioned in my first post, I interviewed to be an Orientation Leader for the upcoming summer, and I was hired! This means I’ll live on campus over the summer, go through Orientation Leader training and help incoming students get acquainted with Blackburn and college life.

Amelia C. Kirby
(about Amelia)

Amelia Kirby's Women's Tennis Student-Athlete Blog #2

Hello everyone! The tennis season is off to a wonderful start! We’ve had a few cold, rainy days, and even had to practice inside. Today was beautiful outside and I’m really excited for it to be consistently warm.

Our first games are on Saturday. We play Eureka at 9:00 am and Maryville at 3:00 pm. I’ll be playing singles and doubles against Eureka but will miss the Maryville match due to a wedding. We haven’t established our ranking yet, but I was #5 singles and #2 Doubles with Mallory Cummings last year. I hope to be ranked higher than last year, but I would settle for being the same.

Until next time...
Amelia Kirby
(about Amelia)