WARSAW – The Warsaw girls tennis team will not lack talent this spring.

The Tigers will not lack senior leadership either.

Not with Camille Kerlin on the roster for one final season.

Kerlin is just one of three seniors this spring for coach Rick Orban’s youthful team. The Warsaw roster sports 10 freshmen, several of whom are expected to be in the varsity lineup for the season opener on April 14 versus Fort Wayne Canterbury.

Kerlin is just one of two players returning from the regional lineup a year ago. The Tigers, who won their 14th straight sectional championship in 2014, graduated five of their top seven players.

“We have a really strong team this year with a lot of talent,” said Kerlin, who played No. 1 doubles last season. “It’s going to be really interesting to see how we come together as a team. It’s definitely exciting.”

Warsaw, despite the graduation of its entire singles lineup, definitely expects a much stronger season that a year ago. The Tigers finished 7-9 overall and 2-5 in the Northern Lakes Conference in 2014.

Orban, who expects his lineup to change with so much quality depth this year, knows he can count on Kerlin.

“Camille is just an incredible, wonderful kid,” Orban said. “She’s a team leader. Our seniors (Kerlin, Sydney Hartman and Shelby Roberts) want this to be a tight knit team this year.”

Kerlin, who hopes to be in the lineup at doubles for the opener, says it’s all about the team.

“Keeping everyone together as a team will be key for us this season,” remarked Kerlin. “Our mindset needs to be that it’s all about each other this year.”

Orban will face some tough decisions with such an influx of talented freshmen this year.

“Camille and I talked (prior to the season) and she knows that she may not start for us,” explained Orban. “She said she was okay with that and would support the team if that did happen. That’s what you hope to have from your seniors. Camille is a leader attitude wise for us and it sets an example for the rest of the team.”

Kerlin, who plans to attend Indiana University,  has made her mark with her giving spirit. The busy senior organized Rackets For Riley last July, a tennis fundraiser at WCHS that raised more than $12,000 for the Riley Children’s Foundation and the Kosciusko County Riley Kid’s Foundation. Riley’s is a cause near and dear to Kerlin, who was born premature and was only given a five percent chance to survive.  She spent six weeks in the Riley NICU and has had several heart surgeries at the renowned facility in Indianapolis.

“Riley’s is just a very special place to me,” said Kerlin, who was honored as a 2015 Riley Champion back in January. “It (the fundraiser) was a cool way for me to give back.”

Orban appreciates the fondness that his player has for Riley’s.

“Camille just loves Riley and everything that it stands for,” Orban said. “She’s went way above and beyond helping give back. She just wants every kid to have a shot at it like she has.

“I know that all of the people at Riley’s just adore her.”

It’s easy to understand why too.