Melissa Plowman-Kline takes over standout girls' tennis program at Dallastown High School

DICK VanO'LINDA

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Melissa Plowman-Kline is the new head coach of the powerhouse Dallastown girls' tennis program.
Dallastown has won four straight York-Adams Division I titles.
During the past four years, Dallastown has gone 36-0 in Division I matches.
Plowman-Kline is a former standout player for the Wildcats.

Melissa Plowman-Kline had a new title when she met the media this year at York-Adams League Fall Sports Media Day.

New Dallastown girls' tennis head coach, Melissa Plowman-Kline, right, is shown with assistant coach Aaron Hare during York-Adams Fall Sports Media Day at the York Newspaper Company in West Manchester Township, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. Dawn J. Sagert

Plowman-Kline is preparing for her first season as the Dallastown head girls' tennis coach.

She takes over for Deb Gable, who enjoyed a highly successful run leading the powerhouse Wildcats program to numerous York-Adams Division I titles.

In fact, Dallastown has won four straight D-I titles, and since 2000, has won 14 of the 18 D-I championships. The Wildcats have not lost a D-I match since 2013, going 36-0 in the division the last four seasons.

Plowman-Kline is part of Dallastown's illustrious history, having played on championship teams at Dallastown, along with combining on gold-medal doubles teams at the York-Adams and District 3 levels. Plowman-Kline joined with Katie Westenberger to win District 3 Class 3-A doubles titles in 2006 and 2007.

She went on to play NCAA Division II college tennis for four years at Millersville University. Plowman-Kline was an assistant coach for the Wildcats before succeeding Gable.

"It's a crazy feeling taking over for Deb," Plowman-Kline said. "She influenced me as a player and taught me how to be a coach."

Meghan Salaga is one of three returning singles starters for the Dallastown girls' tennis team. DISPATCH FILE PHOTO

Plowman-Kline isn't planning any major changes.

Why change what's already working very well?

"I've taken a lot of what Deb does," Plowman-Kline said. "We will definitely work a lot on footwork and the mental part of the game."

Plowman-Kline is both "nervous and excited" as she prepares for her first season as a head coach.

"It's different being a head coach," she said. "An assistant coach is along for the ride, but a head coach is in charge of the overall program. To me, it's so special being a player, an assistant coach and now the head coach at my alma mater."

Morgan Kistler was a key part of Dallastown's York-Adams Division I championship team in 2017. She will return for the 2018 seasons. DISPATCH FILE PHOTO

Strong returning crew: Plowman-Kline's first team promises to be a very good one.

The Wildcats return all three singles starters — Meghan Salaga, Morgan Kistler and Taylor Jones.

Dallastown certainly appears to have the edge, but the Wildcats aren't the only Y-A Division I team with an experienced singles roster.

Warriors return entire varsity lineup: Susquehannock returns its entire varsity lineup from last year.

"We're expecting to have a successful season," Warriors' assistant coach Austin Scott said.

Julianne Cassady, Kate Cramer and Emily Ditt represented the team at media day.

"There is a lot of excitement this year," Cassady said. "We all get along well and we push each other during school and outside of school."

Cassady, who is expected to play No. 1 singles, said her forehand and serve are her strongest points.

Ditt, a senior, said she was "dead last" on the team as a freshman.

"As a sophomore, I got in a few varsity matches and I've increased my game strongly since then," she said. "I played in the winter at Wisehaven and I managed the (Susquehannock) boys' team.

The three Warriors expected strong competition in Division I this year, mentioning Dallastown, New Oxford (8-1 last season in D-I) and South Western as teams to watch.

Reach Dick VanO'Linda at sports@yorkdispatch.com.