LUBBOCK, Texas (July 5, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University tennis head coach Jason Speegle is adding to his coaching staff, as he welcomes women’s tennis graduate assistant coach Sofia Kostirko and men’s tennis graduate assistant coach Ben Grumley to the program.
 
Kostirko joins the coaching ranks after closing out a five-season playing career in NCAA Division I women’s tennis. The Mississauga, Ontario native is the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year as a grad-transfer at Mount St. Mary’s with a 14-6 record in singles (12-2 in duals and 5-1 in MAAC singles at the No.1 spot). She transferred to Mount St. Mary’s from Boston University, where she competed for four seasons. Kostirko claimed ITA Scholar-Athlete and Patriot League Academic Honors at Boston while completing a degree in Psychology. At Mount St. Mary’s, she worked on a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In Mississauga, Kostirko served as a real estate agent (Sam McDadi Real Estate Inc.) and as a lead tennis instructor at Whiteoaks Tennis Club.
 
Grumley comes to LCU after closing out a college playing career at William Woods in Fulton, Missouri, where he was a three-time NAIA All-American. The three-time Team Captain competed for four seasons for the Owls was nationally ranked No.2 in NAIA Doubles and was part of an Owls program that was ranked No.6 last season. The Traralgon, Australia native excelled academically while completing a degree in Exercise Science, claiming NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CSC Academic All-America accolades. Grumley has completed internships with the William Woods Strength and Conditioning program and with Tennis Australia. He has also worked player services with Tennis Australia and has coached with the Traralgon Tennis Association.
 
The two join the coaching staff, which includes Speegle and assistant coach Marcello Mann. The tennis program is coming off a solid season in which the women’s program finished No.37 in the final ITA national rankings and the men’s program finished No.41 and with their second NCAA South Central Regional appearance.