Melissa Sanders has resigned as Evangel University’s head women’s tennis coach after two seasons.
Sanders was 18-12 in two years and in 2015, guided Evangel to a conference tournament championship a berth in the NAIA national championship tournament and a ranking of 17th in the final NAIA national poll.
This season, Evangel went 8-8 with six matches coming against NCAA-II opponents. The Crusaders went 7-3 against NAIA programs and advanced to the semifinals of the Heart of America / American Midwest conference tournament.
In two years under Sanders, the Crusaders produced five singles players and five doubles teams that were named all-conference and Amy Grossklag-Fritz was honored as an NAIA All-American in 2015.
“Coach Sanders did an excellent job guiding our tennis team for the last two seasons,” said Dr. Dennis McDonald, Director of Athletics at Evangel University. “My prayers are with her and I wish her all the best as she moves forward to another phase of her life.”
Sanders was the program’s third head coach since 2000. Celeste Jenkins served as head coach from the 2000 to 2005 and Debbie De Almeida-Vendelin followed to lead the team for nine seasons. The tennis program was revived in 2000 after a 12 year absence.
A search for the next head coach of the program is under way.
