JERRY ADAMS
Head Coach

Coach Adams begins his eleventh season as head coach of the women's tennis program. During his tenure, the program has risen from a one-win season his first year to being a perennial contender in the region. Adams' career record at Aquinas is 88-62. Over the past eight years, Aquinas is 80-48. Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Adams served as the boy's tennis coach at Lowell High School.

In his real life, Coach Adams owns a design firm, Media Rare, specializing in museum exhibition development. A University of Michigan anthropology graduate, Adams earned a master's degree in museum studies and the history of science from Oregon State University. Before opening his company, Adams served as a curator at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids and still serves as the corporate art curator for Alticor Corporation. Coach Adams resides near Aquinas' campus with his wife, Amy Sherman (an Aquinas grad) and their three children, Finn (10), Rohan (8) and Edie (6).

Despite graduation losses at the top and bottom of the lineup, the squad looks forward to another successful campaign, having several new recruits joining the core of last year's team.

Leading the team this season are junior co-captains Katie Siegel (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern) and
Cecilia Vaughn (Grosse Pointe Woods/Regina). Both are expected to continue their strong contributions in the heart of the lineup. Siegel is especially potent in doubles, having lost in the Division I semi-finals her senior season at first doubles for a state championship team. Cecelia Vaughn provides the foundation for the team with her leadership and limitless energy supply. Like last season, she will provide solid play in the singles and doubles lineup, giving her all on every point.

Sophomore Emily Decker (St. Clair/St. Clair) will compete at the top of the lineup this season. Emily played
second singles last season and will be gunning for the top spot this year. Samantha Buehler
(Grandville/Grandville) was the surprise of last year's team. A walk-on, Samantha was playing third singles at the end of the year, gradually moving up the roster as the season progressed.

Aquinas welcomed four newcomers to the squad this fall: Kristin Heinrich, Jessica LeMire, Michaela Young and Ashley Hendrick. The latest product of a quality program, Kristin Heinrich (Ludington/Ludington) played first singles and saw some action at first doubles in preparation for the the dual role she will certainly fill at the collegiate level. Jessica LeMire (Grand Rapids/Northview) brings an excellent all-around game to the next level by signing with the Saints. Jessica is an intuitive player that knows how to build a point and always seems to play the right shot. Michaela Young (Rockford/Rockford) will be a solid contributor having been coached by an Aquinas alum and tennis standout, Tom Huizing, at the high school level. Ashley Hendrick (Grand Rapids/Northview) transferred from Calvin College this fall. She, too, has Aquinas tennis in her veins. Ashley is the daughter of men's coach, Jerry Hendrick, and will provide smarts and skill primarily on the doubles side.

“Last season was successful in every way except our record. If you only consider Xs and Os, we won one out of three matches that we played. However, we had the strongest ”team” we have had in years. That foundation will serve us well as we move forward. We added very solid players in our incoming class, players expected to contribute right away. We don't graduate anyone from this year's squad and we are looking at 2-3 very solid players to add to this rapidly improving, hard-working bunch. With the kind of leadership we are getting from CeCe and Katie, the numbers will come back around.”