Women's Tennis Looks Forward to Successful 2004-05
12/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Women's Tennis Looks Forward to Successful 2004-05
12/14/2004
After posting its third consecutive winning season, the 2004-05 Pittsburgh Panthers women?s tennis team looks to build upon that success in the coming year. With a solid group of returning team members and talented newcomers, the 2004-05 season holds great expectations. Last season the Panthers posted a 10-9 record after starting the year strong at 10-2. The challenges of the Big East schedule posed problems for the team at the end of the season, but 25th year head coach George Dieffenbach insists it wasn?t a case of the team slumping. "We like to schedule so that we build to a peak," that being the high level of competition in the Big East. Indeed, strong programs like Villanova, Rutgers, and West Virginia can give even the best teams a hard match. But the Panthers are in a better position to be competitive in the conference for 2004-05. The key to this season will be improvement in the team?s doubles play. "It?s hard to win matches consistently without the point you get from doubles," Dieffenbach said. With the cast of players the coach has on the squad this year, improved play at all levels should be attainable. The return of senior Jill Williams should help the team meet its goals in 2004-05. Williams competed for the Panthers for three years before taking last season off. She returns to the team hoping to continue to rebuild her game and perhaps enter her name in the recordbooks. The record at Pitt for career combined victories is 124; Williams currently has 86 combined wins. Dieffenbach sees the record as Williams? goal for this season. Juniors Emily Hughes and Becky Emmers are also back for another season with the Panthers. Hughes finished last season with an impressive 17-victory season in singles play and was selected as a co-MVP of the team. The left-hander plays an aggressive game on the court and competes hard with top opponents. Emmers hopes to improve upon her 2003-04?s 21-28 combined record and return to the form of her freshman year, when she posted a 14-12 singles record and a 4-3 doubles record. A Big East Academic All-Star along with being an ITA Scholar Athlete, Emmers shows leadership on the court and in the classroom. Both Emmers and Hughes, along with Williams, will be counted upon for leadership for the youthful Panther squad. Youth is also one of the team?s strongest links. Sophomore Annie Davies enters her second season as a Panther after an impressive freshman campaign, when she posted a 15-9 singles record along with a 14-14 doubles record en route to co-MVP honors. Was Coach Dieffenbach surprised by such production from a freshman? Not at all. "Tennis is a game where you can really hit the ground running," Deiffenbach said. "We knew when Annie came in what kind of talent she had." Davies? talent carries over to her schoolwork as she was named a Big East Academic All-Star last season. Dieffenbach also hopes that the No. 1 doubles team of Davies and Williams will help improve the Panthers? doubles standing. Senior Konita Jude returns for her third season as a Panther. A team player in every sense of the word, Jude provides great depth for the squad and was able to come through with a few key doubles victories last year. She finished last season with a strong win and is counted on to be a smart player who can outlast an opponent. She is also a Big East Academic All-Star. New to the team in 2004-05 is a group of talented young players who will be expected to help take the team to the next level. Freshmen Michele Petrasko and Leah Friedman both come to Pitt on the heels of accomplished high school careers. Petrasko?s addition to the team is noticeable enough: she ranked first in the Middle States Tennis Association doubles rankings. Dieffenbach wanted to improve the team?s doubles play and now he has one of the best. The hard-hitting Petrasko is an intense competitor with an aggressive serve who should add an edge to the Panthers. Friedman, a home-grown Pittsburgh native, was a City League singles champion for three years, as well as a PIAA state championship qualifier and competitor and a highly ranked player in the MSTA. She?s motivated, intense, and, according to Dieffenbach, very coachable. Several other players will make their debut with the Panthers in 2004-05. Transfers Roseanne Friend and Sotera Gacad-Cowan both hope to continue to improve their skills at Pitt. Friend, a sophomore, is a transfer from Westminster College and has shown herself to be a steady player who has worked to become more aggressive. Gacad-Cowan, an 18-year old junior, came to Pitt after two years at Arizona State. She was highly ranked in the juniors level in California and she adds depth to the Panther squad with the offensive threat she poses. According to Dieffenbach, she has weapons to use and will keep improving. Sophomore Sarah Tobin and freshman Carlie Smith round out the Panthers? roster for 2004-05. Tobin is a depth-adding hard hitter who will become more consistent over time. Smith, a left handed player, has a good work ethic and is a quiet, confident thinker with good potential. The 2004-05 season finds the University of Pittsburgh women?s tennis team in a position to improve on their 10-9 record of a season ago. "We?re striving to increase our intensity," Coach Dieffenbach said. "If the whole team gives an intense 100% effort, we will succeed." In this case, success is to continue the run of winning records and keep striving for the Big East Tournament. Dieffenbach knows the team can get there. "It?s important to be physically and mentally strong. With hard work and good planning comes confidence."