By: Andrew Mindeman/Director of Athletic Communications
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- A four-year standout, a two-sport athlete, and a transfer. It would be difficult to find a women's tennis senior class in Division III that mixed all those together, but that was the concoction for the Covenant program this season.
As the spring season came to a premature close in early March, it abruptly ended the year for Scots seniors Esther Eddy, Margo Koby, and Sara Blauw. The trio only played two years together but leaves a lasting impression on the program.
"When I reflect on this year's seniors, they are a group of servant-leaders who consistently proved it is possible to compete with your utmost effort while playing in a way that reflects joy and gratitude," said head coach John Hirte.
Their paths could not have been more different.
Eddy was a four-year player for the Scots and ends her career within the top-five of many program records. Koby excelled on the basketball court and then joined the tennis program in her junior year. Blauw played golf at Trinity Christian College before transferring prior to her junior year and traded in her clubs for a racket.
Together, the group helped usher in a new era of Covenant women's tennis. The Scots had tremendous success in Eddy's first two years on Lookout Mountain, but the graduation of several top players saw the team needing to revamp itself. With Eddy at the top of the lineup, Koby in the middle, and Blauw providing support in the second half of the order, the Scots were well on their way to climbing back up the USA South ladder this season.
Hailing from Jacksonville, Fla., Eddy was a two-time USA South All-West Division honoree and would have been a strong candidate for a third straight honor this year. She opened her career with 14 singles wins as a freshman and 10 more in her sophomore year. Asked to move up to the top flight in both singles and doubles entering her junior year, Eddy didn't back down from the challenge. Eddy won 10 singles matches last year and eight in doubles play en route to earning first team All-USA South West Division.
This year, Eddy had already compiled five overall wins in singles and eight in doubles and was the USA South Player of the Week on March 2. Paired with freshman Madelyn Savage in doubles play this season, the tandem earned back-to-back USA South Doubles Team of the Week honors on March 2 and March 9, while totaling a 7-3 record together. The duo won their final six matches, two shy of tying a program record.
All told, Eddy produced 38 career singles wins in dual matches, which ranks fourth all-time in program history, while compiling 40 doubles wins overall (fifth in program history).
Koby made a smooth transition from the hardwood to the hardcourt. The St. Louis, Mo., native totaled 23 wins (11 in singles play and 12 in doubles) in her two-year career on the tennis team. Koby took on the No. 2 spot as a tennis newcomer last year and tallied six overall wins to go along with eight doubles victories at the top spot with Eddy.
As a senior, Koby registered a 5-2 overall record in singles play with four more wins in doubles competition.
A new school and a new sport didn't faze Blauw. From Caledonia, Mich., Blauw had five singles wins in her first year as a Scot. This season, she recorded four wins in the abbreviated year.
The group's ability on the court is well-stated, but their work in the classroom and as examples of Christ during competition is even more important. Eddy is a two-time USA South All-Academic team member, earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors once, and was Covenant's representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship team in 2017. Koby and Blauw each earned USA South All-Academic honors once entering their senior seasons.
"They are evidence that you can pursue excellence and victory with a smile on your face and the more-than-occasional joke," Hirte noted. "They never ceased to look for opportunities to support and put the needs of their teammates above their own.
"They've left a legacy that I hope will continue to be passed down for years to come."
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