-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Girls Tennis Returning Letterwinners are, left to right, Kaitlyn Folsom, Hailey Folsom, Grace Behrens, Olivia Hamlow, Trusha Bhatt, Ashlyn Headlee Missing: Emily Goodner, Sydney Gebers, Rosio Cruz Perez

Julie Astor is no stranger to coaching at the high school level.

But Astor is taking on a new challenge this spring in leading the Fort Dodge girls tennis program.

She looks to lean on a slew of returning seniors including Emily Goodner, who has signed to play volleyball at Iowa Central in the spring.

Goodner, who attends school at Manson Northwest Webster, is joined by seniors Trusha Bhatt, Claire Dardenne, Hailey Folsom, Olivia Hamlow, Ashlyn Headlee and Grace Tolliver.

“Emily has lots of experience and is a strong, smart player,” Astor said. “Ashlyn and Claire are competing for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots with several others in the mix for varsity positions.”

“I have high expectations for the season and think with our schedule, we will be very competitive.”

Juniors Grace Behrens, Rosio Cruz-Perez and Sydney Gebers, sophomores Kylie Cox, Kaitlyn Folsom, Ontansha Gibbs, Janelle Long and Natalie Zarogoza and freshmen Daisy Arellano, Jessenia Elias and Madge Hensley round out the roster.

“I feel I can put together some very strong doubles teams,” Astor said. “We have a great group of girls and the number of girls out is higher than last year.

“The girls are working hard and pushing each other to get better every day. We have some girls new to the sport, which is great. They are eager and willing to learn the game.”

Bill Foval will be an assistant for Astor, who will also lean on Todd Redenius, Ryan Flaherty and Scott Messerly who “have helped me out tremendously.”

Fort Dodge opens the year at home on Thursday vs. Des Moines Lincoln with road trips to Spencer and Des Moines Roosevelt to follow. After hosting Mason City, the Dodgers play four of their next five on the road around home dates vs. Boone and Des Moines North.