2007 PAC Women's Tennis Preview


 BETHANY BISON (0-12 Overall, 0-5 PAC in 2006)
The 2006 season may have been a difficult one, but the Bethany Bison look to prove its doubters wrong in 2007. Expected back for the Bison are senior Jen Hubbel and sophomore Ashley Current who combined to win four of the Bethany's five singles matches last season.


CHATHAM COUGARS (2-14 Overall in 2006)
 Three tennis players return from Chatham’s 2007 squad which finished 2-14 overall. That squad showed steady development throughout the season and won two of its final four contests. The Cougars are looking forward to their first season of competition in the PAC.

Second-year head coach Aaron Wilf will rely on a young squad with three sophomores and five first-year student-athletes on the roster. Sophomores Becca Minges, Sowmya Narayanan and Sarah Urick all have collegiate experience.

Chatham opens the season at home when it hosts Grove City College on September 4.


GENEVA GOLDEN TORNADOES (First season in PAC)
 It truly is a new beginning for Geneva’s women’s tennis team. Having just completed its 2007 spring season, the Golden Tornadoes will do a quick turnaround to begin their first full fall season as a new member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III.

It will be the first time that Geneva will field a women’s tennis team in the fall semester. Head coach Mandee Craft will face some challenges with the change, but knows her team will rise to those challenges. “It is certainly a different feel having our girls get right into competition when they arrive for school,” said the seventh year head coach. “We are fortunate that we have some veterans and we won't be throwing a lot of newcomers directly into the fire.”
 

Craft is fortunate to have six returning players, all of which have contributed to Geneva’s success in recent years. Jill Halama, the team’s number one singles player from the fall, is back for her senior season along with her senior counterparts Allison Krisza and Beth Sweatman. Halama also makes up half of Geneva’s number one doubles team along with sophomore Tess Roholt.


Halama and Krisza are the only four year starters on the roster, but they will get help from returners Jill Grabski and Julie Buck.  “We have some great senior leadership,” said Craft. “Our three seniors are really special and they have been great examples for the rest of our team throughout their careers. We are very hopeful that they will all have a memorable senior season.”

 Geneva’s veterans will get a lift by the arrival of a pair of newcomers to the program in 2007. Sophomore Bethany Ragonesi and freshman Katie Caldwell will make their first appearances on the college courts for Geneva this fall.

“We are always excited about our newcomers,” said Craft. “It won't be easy for them to get right into the action, but we are hopeful that they will make an easy transition and help us by contributing fairly quickly.”

 Geneva will be faced with a difficult schedule, including some very strong teams in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Geneva will also compete in the Penn State Behrend Invitational to begin the season and will welcome old time foe Seton Hill to Beaver Falls for the 2007 fall home opener. “We are looking forward to the challenges that are ahead of our program as a member of the PAC and NCAA Division III,” said Craft. “It is especially exciting for me because I can remember the old rivalries we had against some of these teams when I was a player. Hopefully, our young ladies will appreciate those match-ups as we become reacquainted with our old friends.”

Although it has only been a few months since the 2007 spring season ended and the Golden Tornadoes will be playing a completely new schedule this fall, Coach Craft and the Golden Tornadoes are anxious to get started and begin a new era of Geneva women’s tennis.

“We all know that one good thing is we don't have to wait very long to find out what kind of team we are going to have,” said Craft. “Our ladies better be ready to compete quickly because we won't have a whole lot of time to prepare for our first fall season in the PAC.”


GROVE CITY WOLVERINES (8-5 Overall, 5-0 PAC in 2006)
With eight returning letterwinners in the fold, the Grove City College women’s tennis team is well-positioned to challenge for another Presidents’ Athletic Conference title in 2007.

Grove City returns seven players from last year’s regular lineup, including the 2006 PAC Player of the Year in sophomore Nicole Andreini. The Wolverines enter 2007 in pursuit of their 21st straight conference title.

Andreini is one of several underclassmen who made an immediate impact last year, helping Grove City to an 8-5 mark. In all, Grove City welcomes back three seniors, a pair of juniors and three sophomores among the eight letterwinners.

Senior Kristin McNally is a three-year starter for Grove City. McNally returns at both second singles and second doubles after going 10-3 in both flights last year. McNally earned PAC Player of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2005. She has six career PAC titles to her credit and will likely be near the top of the lineup again this season.

Senior Erin Bennett is a two-year starter and a returning conference champion. Bennett played primarily at fourth singles and third doubles in 2006 and will again be a fixture in the lineup. Another senior, Julie Bellissimo, earned her second letter in 2006 after posting an 11-2 mark in singles play. She will look to move up in the lineup after playing at sixth singles last year.

Junior Tamara Nations is a two-year starter and letterwinner for Grove City. Nations moved into the No. 3 singles spot last year and teamed with Andreini at first doubles. Nations will again be a fixture in the Grove City lineup during the 2007 season.

Junior Chris Sager emerged as a freshman in 2005, winning the conference title at sixth singles. She will look to reclaim a full-time spot in the lineup this fall.

Three sophomores are also back after playing extensively in 2006. Andreini made an immediate impact by earning the starting nod at both first singles and first doubles. Andreini finished the season 14-1 at first singles and won conference titles at both first singles and first doubles. She is expected to be at or near the top of the Grove City lineup again this season.

Sophomores Lisa Baldwin and Kristin Taylor also return after lettering as rookies last year. Baldwin played exclusively in singles and became a fixture at fifth singles. Taylor finished 8-0 in doubles play in 2006. She also saw spot duty at sixth singles and will again challenge for a full-time spot in the lineup.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Garcia saw spot duty during the 2006 season and will challenge for regular duty this fall.

A number of newcomers are also expected to compete for spots in the lineup.

This year, Grove City will also play an extended spring schedule along with their fall schedule.

The extended spring schedule will allow Grove City to be considered for possible inclusion in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.


SAINT VINCENT LADY BEARCATS (9-4 Overall in 2006)
The Lady Bearcats welcome back senior Lori Orthen and junior Meghan Wells this fall. The pair finished strong in 2006 as they cruised to a 9-3 record as first doubles partners. They finished last season strong by winning seven of their final 10 doubles matches and look to keep that momentum rolling heading into the 2007 season. Also expected to contribute for Saint Vincent is senior Ashley Nord who compiled a 6-1 overall record in singles play, including a 5-1 mark at sixth singles.  

 

 

THOMAS MORE SAINTS (2-5 Overall, 2-3 PAC in 2006)
 There are a lot of new faces on the Thomas More women's tennis team in 2007. Gone is first singles staple Whitney Reis, along with two other steady members of the program - Emily Prescott and Haley O'Connell.

 

Weis and Prescott were four-year letterwinners for the Saints.

Senior Alma Murga will eleviate to first-singles for her final season. Returners Monica Pharo and Katie Trauth will add some leadership to an otherwise young team. 
Pharo earned PAC second team honors in fifth singles last season - her first season the team.

Freshmen Winnie Moore, Kelly Fugua, Gabrielle Gray and Brittaney Knapp will all find time in the Thomas More lineup.

 


WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (2-8 Overall, 1-4 PAC in 2006)
 Allison Johnston is expected to return for her senior season in 2007 for Washington & Jefferson. Last year as a junior she posted a 5-6 overall record at first singles, which included a 4-4 mark in dual matches. The Presidents also look to welcome back sophomore Jessica Garcia. As a freshman Garcia notched a 4-8 overall record highlighted by winning two of three singles matches in her first career Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament.


WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS (4-8 Overall, 3-2 PAC in 2006)

The Waynesburg University women's tennis team will have to took to replace the production of four year starter Jennifer Knight, who graduated last year. Knight was an ITA All-Academic selection and multiple All-PAC receipent numerous times throughout her career. Expected to return for the Yellow Jackets include juniors Laura Garcia and Evelyn Fabian. The two juniors combined for a 13-16 overall record. The duo also combined to win four of six singles matches in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament in 2006. Also expected back is sophomore Allie Horochack, who finished her first season with a 4-9 record that included starts at second, third and fourth singles.

With a combined eight underclassmen expected to return to the courts in 2007, the Yellow Jackets seem to be building a foundation for future success in the PAC.
 

 

WESTMINSTER TITANS (9-10 Overall, 4-1 PAC in 2006)
 The Westminster College women's tennis team proved that it can secure second place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference last year. Now, the Titans are ready to take the next step and aim for a conference title as they enter the 2007 season.

Third-year head coach Scott Renninger expects a solid team laden with experience. Four starters, including three who competed in the singles lineup, will return from last year's team that compiled a 9-10 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the PAC.

"We have a lot of experience and with our new additions it should provide a very sound lineup," said Renninger, who was voted the 2006 PAC Coach of the Year. "Coming off of a solid season and very strong PAC tournament, we hope to keep the momentum going. If we can continue to grow as players and as a team it could be an interesting season."

The four returning starters are seniors Christina Commisso, Dana Larson, and Trista Houck and sophomore April Scudere.

Scudere became the team's first PAC champion in two seasons last year when she captured the No. 4 singles title by defeating Grove City's Erin Bennett in the finals. A first-team all-PAC honoree, Scudere compiled a team-best singles record of 16-4 last year, including a 9-2 mark at No. 4.

Commisso, a 2004 PAC singles champion, brings a wealth of experience. Commisso was 8-7 in singles play last year - primarily at No. 3 - and is back at the No. 1 doubles spot this year after she and Larson compiled an 8-7 doubles mark record together, including a 7-5 mark at No. 1 doubles.

Larson posted a 9-11 overall record in Nos. 1 and 2 singles last year. Houck was 3-4 in singles action and 9-8 in overall doubles action.

The team's four-player senior class, which also includes Anna Will, will serve as the team's co-captains. Will posted a 2-4 overall singles record in 2006.

Also looking to make in impact will be juniors Beth Erwin, Gwen Gorski and Melissa Maines, sophomores Hilary Newman and Linda Farnham, and freshmen Natalie Hruska and Rachel Jack. Newman is a transfer from Robert Morris and Maines did not play last year after playing during her freshmen year.

The Titans open the season Friday, Aug. 31, for a PAC match at Waynesburg.


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