Paul Hartman, Judi Stiff and Corey Van Fleet

Oakland University’s women’s tennis program has returned toward’s the top of the GLIAC in the past two seasons. The 1987 version of the women’s tennis team placed second in the GLIAC. Prior to the last two years, the best days in women’s tennis were the 1978 and 1979 seasons, when OU finished second in the GLIAC. That was due mostly to the play of number one singles player Judi Stiff.

As a junior in 1978, Stiff showed signs of what was to come as she helped OU to its first of two straight GLIAC runner-up spots. Stiff was 12-5 in singles play and had a 7-5 mark in doubles. Stiff was the dominant tennis player in the GLIAC as a senior, going 17-0 in number one singles and 16-1 at number one doubles, capturing GLIAC titles in both as OU placed second again.

A human resource and development major at OU, Stiff is now the owner and director of the Olympus Tennis Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. She was second in the nation in doubles in 1987 as rated by the US Pro Tennis Association, and is currently the sixth-rated player in the state of Florida. She is also working with the United States Tennis Association Program, which brings tennis to all schools in South Florida.

The former OU tennis great currently resides in West Palm Beach.