Kelly Kendle is in her fifth year as co-head coach of the Lindenwood table tennis program with her husband, Randy. The couple started the program in 2008.
Under the leadership of Kendle, the Lady Lions captured their second national title in just four years at the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) National Championships held in Plano, Texas in April, 2012. The Lady Lions defeated the University of Toronto in the title match 3-1. The Co-ed team was upset by Mississippi College in the semifinals, but defeated San Jose State University 3-2 in the next round to finish third nationally. In addition to the national championship, the Lady Lions also took second place in women's doubles and second place in women's singles.
In 2011, the Lindenwood men's and women's programs reached the title match at the NCTTA National Championship in 2011, but both would have to settle for runner-up finishes. The Lions defeated USC in the quarterfinals and Governor’s State University in semifinals, but lost by just two points to seven-time defending champion Texas Wesleyan University in the championship match. The Lady Lions defeated Duke in the quarterfinals and Columbia University in the semifinals, but in a rematch from the 2010 championship, also fell to TWU in the title match.
In only the second season for the program, Kendle directed the Lady Lions to the national championship in 2010. In their debut appearance at the Collegiate National Championships, Lindenwood knocked off defending national champion Texas Wesleyan University 3-2 in the finals to secure the first national title for Lindenwood table tennis. The men’s squad also improved under Kendle in year two, advancing to the national championship match and finishing second.
In the program’s inaugural season, Lindenwood finished fifth at the 2009 NCTTA National Championships in the co-ed division and the program was named NCTTA Rookie Team of the Year.
Randy and Kelly Kendle started their own USA Table Tennis club called the Saint Peters Table Tennis Club in March of 2005. The club has 12 tables and practices weekly at two high schools in the Francis Howell School District. Details can be found at
http://www.spttc.org.
Kelly is a certified USATT Club Umpire and helps run the various tournaments hosted by Lindenwood University and its local table tennis club. She also handles all travel arrangements for the team as well as dealing with suppliers of apparel.
