Sports
Related Photos
-
Danielle Hansen plays in a recent Lipscomb University tennis match.
Former Eagle leads rebuilding effort at Lipscomb
As a freshman in high school, Danielle Hansen was exposed to the challenges of high level tennis.
She played No. 1 singles for Zionsville Community High School in 2005, her first year of varsity competition, and went 15-4 at the top spot on a team that had six seniors at the other six positions.
Zionsville went on to finish fourth in the state that year and Hansen established herself as a leader for the Eagle tennis program for the next three seasons.
Five years later, Hansen finds herself ready to continue as a leader. The former Indianapolis Star Player of the Year recently completed her sophomore season at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. She enters her senior season hoping to turn around a struggling Division I program that has a lot of promise.
Lipscomb was 5-17 overall last season and went winless in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
“It was a very rough year for Lipscomb,” Hansen said. “Part of this is due to the strength of tennis in the Atlantic Sun Conference and another part is due to Lipscomb’s recruiting philosophy. Most Division I colleges recruit internationally for their tennis student athletes. It is not uncommon for many of our conference opponents to not have any Americans on the team.
“Many of these international players who begin their collegiate year at age 20 or later after coming out tennis academies in their country. Having said that, getting to play some of the best talent in the country is a lot of fun and challenging. Lipscomb has historically focused their recruiting on a formula of finding top talent, but also those who want a strong private Christian college experience. We have two girls on our team from Canada and the rest are American.”
Hansen was one of the more regular performers for the Bison this past season. She featured a 5-8 individual record playing at No. 3 singles. She also played at No. 2 doubles and partnered with Kara Jackson for a 7-6 record. Jackson and Hansen started the season hot with a 6-1 record before struggling in the second half of the season. She goes into the 2010-11 year facing more uncertainty, as Lipscomb is seeking a new head coach.
“I think the 2010-11 season will continue to be a rebuilding year,” Hansen said. “We will have a new coach for this coming year. While the coach has not been announced, they are working hard to get new recruits that can make an immediate impact.”
Off the court, Hansen has faced the challenge of completing her nursing degree while balancing a full load of practices that comes with being a Division I athlete. She must attend clinical, classes, and still find time to make it to practice and travel with the team to matches.
“It is tough,” she said. “Most college coaches at the D1 do not like to recruit nursing students due to the intense course load and demanding clinical. College tennis does not have much of an offseason as we play tournaments and have an increased focused on cardio and strength training. During the main (spring) season we often play one night during the week and travel Friday through Sunday.
“Because most of the conference is in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida, we travel a lot. Having said that, the adjustment hasn’t been too difficult. Playing in the USTA Jr. program growing up required me to travel most weekends to tournaments and practice five days a week so I had already developed pretty good time-management skills.”
- Sports
-
-
Zionsville tennis team edges Lebanon
The Zionsville boys’ tennis team has won five consecutive sectional titles.
The Lebanon Tigers showed the Eagles that they will have to earn their sixth-straight in a few weeks.
-
Lady Eagles sweep Stars
Western Boone head volleyball coach Adriane Turner warned her team it was playing one of the toughest opponents when it hosted Boone County rival Zionsville Tuesday, Aug. 24.
-
Eagles fourth at conference
In high school golf the Bear Slide course just outside of Cicero is a bit of a monster. With rolling hills, fast greens, and plenty of obstacles it presents a big challenge for even the most experienced golfer.
-
Eagles shut down Mavericks
Zionsville running back Kyle Hatton played a pivotal role Friday, Aug. 27, against visiting McCutcheon in the home opener for the Eagles in their new stadium. Hatton carried the ball 15 times for 171 yards and a touchdown while helping his team to a 24-3 victory over the Mavericks. The junior could not have envisioned a better way to break in the new digs.
- Sports briefs for Sept. 1
-
Lady Eagles seek to improve in 2010
If you look at the results of last season’s state cross country meet, there are a lot of familiar names to Zionsville fans.
-
Team aims for return to state
Throughout last season’s tournament run the results were mostly the same for Zionsville’s boys’ cross country team — a solid finish behind rivals Noblesville and Carmel.
-
Bulldogs edge Eagles
Last season, the Brownsburg boys’ soccer team was thrashed 6-1 at home by eventual state champion Zionsville.
-
Eagles cruise past Bronchos
Zionsville quarterback Parker Dunshee hardly looked like a first-year sophomore starter at Lafayette Jefferson Friday, Aug. 20.
- Sports briefs for Aug. 25
- More Sports Headlines
-
Zionsville tennis team edges Lebanon
