Sept. 14, 2007
EASTON, Pa. -
The Lafayette women's tennis team will have added depth as four freshmen join the 2007-08 squad. The Leopards lost only one member of last year's fourth-place team to graduation.
"I am looking for the team to grow and improve upon last year's effort," said head coach Eric Ratchford. "We have a core of upperclassmen to lead the effort with Jacqui Bonder and Ansley Scudder as captains."
In her final season with the Leopards, Bonder is looking forward to playing her best tennis. She is eager to step up her game and leadership role for the team. Bonder has a career singles records of 12-8 and is undefeated at No. 4 with four wins.
"Jacqui is a very athletically-gifted player and I am looking for her to continue to improve and step up for us as a senior," Ratchford said.
In her junior season, Scudder is also up to the leadership challenge. She has posted a career record of 25-11 in singles and paired with classmate Sarah Sykes last season in doubles and finished with a 3-2 record.
"Ansley is a very skilled lefty baseliner who has won a lot of close matches for us during her first two seasons. I expect her to continue to improve and be a factor for us on and off the court," Ratchford said.
Sykes appeared in the lineup at the second, third and fourth positions for singles and was a staple at the second position with Scudder in doubles. She has an 8-7 overall singles record and a 3-1 record at No. 3. During her freshman season, Sykes won nine of 10 singles.
Classmates Nancy Parker, Kim Sialiano and Julia Strang are no exception to this season's competitive junior class.
Parker will look to build upon her 8-6 singles record from 2006-07 and move up in the lineup. She appeared primarily in the fourth and fifth positions in her sophomore season and at the No. 5 spot, had a 3-1 record.
"Nancy is a very steady baseline player and she was able to gain valuable experience as a sophomore which should help us this coming season," Ratchford said.
Sialiano saw limited action in her first year on the team and will look to increase her playing time. While starting in the fourth, fifth and sixth positions in the spring season she recorded two wins.
Strang teamed with Bonder and Clarke in doubles and played primarily in the first position in singles. As a sophomore, Strang won 12 straight singles matches to begin her collegiate career.
"Julia is a tough and talented player. She was in a difficult spot last year playing injured through much of the season," Ratchford said. "The experience she has gained in her first two season should help us this year in a big way."
Classmate Lauren Longenecker saw very limited action in her first season with the Leopards. She looks to see more playing time as she benefits from last year's experience with appearances at No. 4 and No. 6, where she won both her matches.
Fellow sophomore Abby Wilkenfeld made a few strong appearances for Lafayette against St. Francis (N.Y.) and Army. She recorded two wins last season and should earn more playing time this year.
Freshmen Kristie Cavanagh, Emily DeLuca, Rachel Rohinsky and Allie Seranko will be included in the mix to compete for lineup spots.
"We have a very talented group of players coming in that will greatly add to the depth of our roster," Ratchford said.
DeLuca was a starter for Fairfield Ludlowe High School throughout her career. Rohinsky was ranked No. 23 in the USTA New England Section and played number one singles for Hamden Hall Country Day. Seranko played number two singles for Greater Latrobe and won the PIAA AAA doubles championships as a senior.
"Overall, I think the depth of this year's team will be better than that of last year's team, and that will help us to continue to improve and be more competitive within the Patriot League," Ratchford said. "With six starters returning we are definitely looking to build on last year's success."
The women's team opens the fall season on the road when they travel to Newport, R.I. to compete in the ECAC Open Saturday and Sunday.
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