Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Tennis Set for 2008 Season
1/21/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 21, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's tennis team is set to start the 2008 regular season on the road against Penn State, Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Bison are coming off an 8-16 overall record and 2-2 record in the Patriot League last season, advancing to the championship match in the league tournament for the third straight year.
The Bison return 11 letterwinners from last season: senior Caitlin Baffa (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills High School East), juniors Tiffany Card (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional), Paulina Gamboa (Mexico City, Mexico/Greengates School), JoAnna Grossman (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park High School) and Camille Simonetti (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), and sophomores Carlin Calcaterra (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central), Eva Lipiec (Rockaway, N.Y./Poly Prep), Megan Lee (Middleburg, Va./Wakefield), Kirstyn Sotak (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), Tania Varela (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy) and Renee Weissend (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima). Additionally, Bucknell welcomes three incoming freshmen to the 2007-08 squad, Dara Dwojewski (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham), Lauren Lucido (Woodstock, Md./St. Pauls School For Girls) and Lauren Rottkamp (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor).
"Last year we were able to work hard to overcome some adversity in our program and we ultimately found ourselves back in the championship match," said head coach Rebecca Helt, "This year, being healthy, strong and having returned all but one of our starters, this team looks better than ever."
Helt notes that "Our top six will be as strong as any in the league, and it won't be easy to decide the starting line up with the level of depth we have on this team. Our focus will be on executing solid doubles play to pick up the early point. Then, I think we'll have strong performances from our singles players, particularly in league play."
"Tania Varela and Paulina Gamboa return as two of the best singles players in the league," said Helt. Varela was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year last season and also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team in her freshman year. Gamboa also earned a spot on the First Team All-Patriot League squad last season and was the only Bison to post an undefeated record against Patriot League opponents.
"Carlin Calcaterra and Caitlin Baffa will once again make an impact on our starting line up," said Helt. Calcaterra went 10-22 overall in singles play and Baffa went 5-6 overall in singles play last season. Helt also noted that, "We add some incredible freshmen talent; Lauren Lucido, Dara Dwojewski and Lauren Rottkamp all look to impact our starting singles and doubles line-up."
Helt feels that "Our schedule is stronger than ever and we'll use it to prepare us for Patriot League matches." Bucknell will open the 2008 spring season at Penn State on Tuesday, Jan. 22, and will travel to the Cornell Invitational, Jan. 25-27. The Bison will return home against Duquesne on Feb. 2 and will host additional home matches against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 23, Fairleigh Dickinson on March 22, UMBC on March 29, Pittsburgh on April 4, Lehigh on April 7, and Delaware on April 22. On the road, the Bison will face Cornell, Quinnipiac, Syracuse, St. Bonaventure, Brown, Villanova, Mount St. Mary's, Colgate, Army, Lafayette, Binghamton and Bloomsburg. The women will end the 2008 season at the Patriot League Championships, set for April 18 - 20 at Army at West Point, N.Y.
