Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Tennis Opens Season Friday at College of New Jersey Tournament
2/11/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 11, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bison women's tennis program had one of the best seasons in program history last year, and isn't looking to reverse the new trend.
Several individual athletes combined to power the Bison to become only the third 16-win team in school history, and those individuals will use the 2003-04 campaign to play out an interesting race to the top of Bucknell's record books among them.
On the singles list, senior captain Samantha Berthod surpassed Kristina Lutter '94 this fall for the all-time singles record for victories (51). However, right on her tail is junior teammate Tanya Sichko. Tanya used the fall to move into a tie for second and trails Berthod by just one win. Thanks to impressive singles records in the fall season, sophomores Veronica Brown (7-3) and Rheanna Gaskin (11-6) are climbing the ladder with 34 and 32 wins respectively. On the doubles list, the race for Lutter's 41-win record is between Sichko (39) and Curcic (33). Berthod is also on the list with 30. Sichko is the closest to Lutter's record of 91 on the combined list, with 89, and Berthod (81) and Curcic (63) are not far behind. In just one and a half seasons, sophomore Veronica Brown piled up 47 wins to enter the top 20. In the fall of 2003, Brown posted an impressive 7-3 record in singles play.
Those four athletes chasing history will add up to team success as well. Much of last year's Patriot League playoff team returns, save Jill Wurzburg. "The freshmen last year gave us great depth," Coach Rebecca Helt said. "The lineup won't be much different from last year, but their games are up a level. Our season should be pretty similar to last year's season."
Not only will players like Berthod, Brown, Curcic, and Sichko be back, but other freshmen from last year, including Rheanna Gaskin, Rebecca Kral, and Chelsea Mills will add depth to the lineup. Mills and Kral teamed up in the fall to produce a solid 6-4 doubles record, while Mills posted an 11-5 fall singles record. Two freshmen, Renee Clinton from Chevy Chase, Md., and Kelly Porter from Chappaqua, N.Y., will join the team, as well Leigh Pratt, a freshman transfer from Lafayette who gains eligibility for the Bison next season.
The Bison will begin their spring season at the College of New Jersey tournament this Friday, prior to commencing their spring dual schedule. Bucknell will host four home non-conference dual matches, plus nine on the road. With regard to the conference schedule, the Bison will have Lehigh and Army at home and Colgate, Lafayette, and American on the road. As usual, only the top four teams in the league get to participate in the Patriot League tournament, which will be played on the home courts of the highest seed. Though Army hosted the tournament last year, the Bison are confident and excited for a chance to host in 2004.
