2007 Women's Tennis Season Preview
The Behrend tennis season begins with a couple of changes entering the fall 2007 season. The College completely renovated the tennis courts and provided a brand new surface for the program. In addition, because there are only three league schools currently sponsoring women's tennis, there will not be a 2007 AMCC women's championship. However, the championship tournament will return in 2008.
"The new courts are great, " said head coach Jeff Barger. "The surface is the right speed and the footing is outstanding. The lights give us the chance to practice later on some nights." Barger continued, "No AMCC Tournament this fall is hurting us a little as far as a conclusion to the season, but we are using the two tournament titles as something to shoot for. Winning those would be big for us."
Historically, Behrend has dominated AMCC play and has seven championships in ten years. "We only have four matches against league teams and should perform well again."
The Behrend Lions women's tennis roster entering the 2007 season with be young. Seven of the ten netters are first or second year competitors for tenth-year coach Jeff Barger. With seniors Allison Mudrey (Hermitage/Hickory) and Amy Brem (Kersey/St. Marys) providing the leadership, coach Barger is optimistic about the program's future.
Mudrey is one of the most successful players to hit the courts for the Behrend Lions. She is a three-time AMCC Player of the Year and could set new Behrend marks for career singles and doubles match victories this fall. Mudrey enters the season with an amazing 41-3 mark in doubles play and a sharp 44-7 overall record in singles. Brem will enter her second season for the blue and white and has competed in both singles and doubles for Behrend and is looking to have a stellar senior campaign. She played at sixth singles and made key contributions last season.
"Both Allison and Amy are very important members of our team," said Barger. "They are outstanding student-athletes and when they play I know that I am going to get a great effort from them. They both have won several big matches over the last few years."
Three all-conference players round out the core of the Behrend Lions this fall. Kelly Matlaka (Heidelberg/Chartiers Valley) was rostered at fifth flight singles in 2006 and also earned second-team All-AMCC accolades last year. Christy Calvert (Warren/Mercyhurst Prep) and Karen Hobaugh (Kutztown/Kutztown) are two sophomores with a strong year of experience under their belts. Each earned all-conference honors at singles and doubles while leading their doubles teams to outstanding first-year 12-2 marks. Calvert also earned a 14-2 record at third singles while Hobaugh played at fourth singles and second doubles and was tabbed as the AMCC Newcomer of the Year. She also posted a 15-2 record in singles.
"We will have several freshmen competing this year," said Barger. "They all have great potential and what they do will determine a lot for the season." The six-time AMCC Coach of the Year expects all the newcomers to battle for time on the court immediately.
New faces on the squad this season will include freshmen Erin Bliley (Erie/Mercyhurst Prep), Elise Jones (Pittsfield, MA/St. Joseph), Hillary Lasher (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern), Libby Pascuzzi (Warren/Warren), and Elissa Swartz (Warren/Warren).
The fall schedule begins with a tough Frostburg State team coming to Erie on Friday, September 7. Then on September 8 Behrend will host its annual invitational with matches against Bethany and Chatham before the finals. "This is one of two tournaments we are playing in this season," continued Barger. "There are several good teams in both events." Behrend will also head to Baltimore, Maryland, in October to play in the Goucher Invitational.
Other home matches feature Fredonia, Oneonta, Penn State Altoona, Waynesburg, Westminster traveling to Behrend, while road trips will take them to Maryland, West Virginia and throughout Pennsylvania. “We have some tough non-conference matches scheduled against teams we have not seen before which will make for an interesting set of new challenges,” continued Barger.
The 2007 season should be another exciting one for the blue and white. The roster mix should make it another successful season for women’s tennis at Behrend. With a tough schedule challenging the women's netters, the blue and white are looking to win a couple invitational titles and make a run at an NCAA bid.