Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Tennis - Season Preview
2/9/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 9, 2005
The Bucknell women's tennis squad has no reason not to have high aspirations for the 2005 spring tennis campaign. The Bison return five of their six singles starters from last season, including an All-Patriot League first team selection in senior co-captain Nada Curcic. The experienced group completed a 16-4 run last spring becoming only the fourth team in Bucknell history to reach 16 wins, a mark they will certainly use their experience to improve upon.
The Bison began spring competition two weeks ago at the Cornell Invitational and kick off their dual match schedule on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn., beginning at 1 p.m. In the preseason Patriot League poll, the Bison were tabbed to finish fourth in the PL behind Army, American and Lehigh.
Returning from a spring season playing 12 matches as Bucknell's number-one player is junior Veronica Brown. Brown, the 2003 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, went 8-4 in the top spot last spring, as well as posting a 6-2 record at the second position, a combined 14-6 mark, for an impressive sophomore campaign.
Senior captain Nada Curcic, Bucknell's all-time doubles wins leader, posted the best overall record last spring notching a near flawless 16-1 singles record. Curcic spent most of her time at the number-three spot for the Bison, recording a 12-1 dual-meet mark. Curcic was also Bucknell's lone All-Patriot League honoree last season.
Playing every spot from one through five, senior captain Tanya Sichko played to a 14-5 dual-match record, recording a near perfect 9-1 performance as Bucknell's number four player. Sichko also took over the top spot the in Bison record books for singles and doubles wins, before Curcic took over the doubles lead during the 2004 fall season.
Junior Chelsea Mills was a mainstay for the Bison at the number-six slot, playing to a 10-3 record for the season. Mills also made appearances at the four and five spots, earning a 16-3 dual-meet record. Voted Bucknell's MVP on the women's side last season, she posted an impressive 26-8 singles record as well as a 20-8 doubles mark.
The Bison also welcome the return of junior Rheanna Gaskin. Gaskin played in the one, two and three spots for the Bison last season for a 9-9 dual-match record. She found the most success at number two, picking up a 6-3 record.
Also back from the 2003-04 squad are senior Jill Merselis and sophomores Renee Clinton and Kelly Porter. Merselis picked up two wins in the number three doubles spot last season.
New to the team this year are freshmen Daniella Shtemberg and Caitlin Baffa, both of whom have already seen significant action during the fall season. Shtemberg saw the most success in doubles competiton, going 4-2 on the fall with partner Tanya Sichko. Also new to the team is Leigh Pratt, a sophomore transfer from Lafayette College.
The Bison played mostly tournaments during the 2004 fall campaign but dominated their lone dual-match against St. Joseph's, shutting out the Hawks, 7-0. Curcic was the top player for the Bison during the fall season picking up two tournament singles titles, as well as a doubles title with partner Veronica Brown. At the Quinnipiac Invitational, Curcic racked up four singles wins on the way to the Flight-A title. The following weekend, she took top honors at the Bucknell Invitational for her second tournament title in as many weeks. In a stellar fall season, Curcic went 11-1 in singles play. Her lone loss came in the opening round of the ITA Regionals. She was the lone Bison woman to qualify for singles action at the prestigious event.
