WESSON – Ashley Matthews Windom, part of some of the greatest Copiah-Lincoln Community College teams in school history, begins her debut season leading Lady Wolves tennis in 2015. Windom replaces Holli Adams Pepper who resigned as coach following the 2014 season to spend more time with her family. Pepper led the Lady Wolves for nine seasons and was teammates with Windom when they were student-athletes in 2002. The Lady Wolves went 4-8 in 2014.

Brister, Dear, Riley, and Alderman return sophomore experience

Sophomore Caroleah Brister of Brookhaven returns after playing mostly No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles in 2014. Brister teamed with graduated sophomore Erika Dear to play No. 3 doubles in 2014. The Enterprise Attendance Center graduate was coming off of a knee injury suffered in high school basketball as a freshman and looks stronger and more confident in 2015.

Allie Dear of Florence, who played No. 4 singles in 2014, is another player who looks more poised as a sophomore in 2015. The graduate of Terry High School paired with graduated sophomore Savannah Brister to play No. 2 doubles last season.

Carly Riley of New Hebron is a player that Windom expects to get more out of in 2015. Riley played spot duty in 2014, seeing action against East Central, Itawamba, and Holmes. The Lawrence County High School product will likely play No. 6 singles in 2015.

Carlianne Alderman of Brookhaven is another sophomore who will be counted on to step up in 2015. Alderman saw action against Holmes and East Central in 2014 and took a win over Holmes at No. 5 singles. Alderman teamed with Riley in No. 3 doubles against East Central and took an 8-6 win in that match.

The Lady Wolves lost four sophomores to graduation Erika Dear, Savannah Brister, Melody Smith, and Courtney Watts.

McInnis and Warren make up freshman class

The freshman duo of Brandy McInnis of Wesson and Madison Warren of Brookhaven bring high-level high school tennis experience and athleticism to the team. McInnis is a graduate of Wesson Attendance Center and was a standout on the basketball court as well as the tennis court. McInnis played No. 1 singles at Wesson and helped the Cobras make an appearance in the MHSAA 3A State Playoffs. Warren, a Brookhaven Academy alum, won the MAIS AA State Champion at No. 1 doubles as a junior and senior. She helped lead the Lady Cougars to the MAIS AA Team State Championship. She was also an MAIS All-Star in basketball.

2014 Lady Wolves No. 2 in the nation in academics 

The 2014 Lady Wolves finished as the NJCAA’s No. 2 in the nation with a 3.66 team GPA. The Lady Wolves were No. 2 in 2013 and have been recognized by the NJCAA as one of the Top 12 national academic teams for 16 consecutive seasons.

With several members of the team already members of the Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society, the team posted a 3.62 team GPA in the fall of 2014.

Windom wears many hats in 2015

A pastor’s wife, mother, teacher, and coach, Windom will do it all in 2015. She is married to Tyson Windom Sr., pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, is the mother of three children, Tyson Jr., Aubrey Ann, and Colt. She also teaches chemistry and physics at Wesson Attendance Center and uses the afternoons to coach the Lady Wolves tennis team. Like most tennis coaches, her minivan is her mobile office and her time on the court is just a small part of her overall day. Windom knows what it takes to win, as she captured singles and doubles state titles as a freshman and sophomore at Co-Lin.

After previously coaching tennis at Franklin County and Terry High School, the Co-Lin alum looks forward to stepping up into the world of MACJC women’s tennis.

2015 Wolves Tennis Schedule

DAY/DATE                  OPPONENT          LOCATION         TIME M/W

Feb. 18                                      East Central                    Home                      2:00/3:30

20                                                Meridian                           Away                      2:00/3:30

26                                                 Holmes                             Home                     2:00/3:30

Mar. 4                                         East Central                    Away                      2:00/3:30

5                                                    Gulf Coast                        Home                     2:00/3:30

20                                                    Jones                               Away                      1:00/2:30

25                                                  Holmes                             Away                       2:00/3:30

27                                                   Northeast                       Away                         TBA

28                                                    Itawamba                       Away                         TBA

31                                                   Hinds                                 Home                    2:00/3:30

Apr. 7                                           Jones                                  Home                    2:00/3:30

9                                                     Hinds                                  Away                      2:00/3:30

15-18                  STATE/REGIONAL TOURNAMENT        Tupelo              TBA