Women's Tennis: Mountaineers Open Fall Season
September 22, 2005 04:35 PM | General
September 22, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women's tennis team will open its fall 2005 season Sept. 23-25, 2005, as they compete in the Maryland Invite in College Park, Md.
The Mountaineers return all eight members from a school record-breaking 17-6 season. In their first test of the season, West Virginia will face Maryland, LSU, Duke, Notre Dame, William and Mary, Virginia and Washington State.
"It will be a very competitive field and we're really looking forward to it," head coach Dan Silverstein said. "Our girls are ready to compete at a high level."
Sophomore Monica Lyskawa remained steady at the No. 3 singles position as a freshman in 2005. The Brampton, Ontario, native will use her strong capability to compete at the top of the lineup again this season.
Stacey Percival, an Aiken, S.C., native also returns from an outstanding freshman year when she recorded a team-best singles record of 13-3 in 2005. The sophomore is known to be an all-around player with a solid serve and great return.
With her solid all-around game and overpowering ground strokes, sophomore Natalia Prinz looks to bounce back into the No. 1 singles spot after sustaining an injury late last season. The Tczew, Poland native also serves as a team captain and looks to lead the team after being the recipient of the most outstanding player award.
Local product Colleen Speaker from Morgantown, W.Va., was added to the team after transferring from Villanova in January. The sophomore improved as the year progressed and used her powerful ground strokes to help her earn a spot in the starting lineup by year's end.
Junior Kelly Walsh returns as a team captain from last season in which she was a major contributor at the top of the singles lineup, playing at either the No. 1 or 2 spot all season. The Chalfont, St. Giles, England, native also owns a 5-1 doubles record with teammate Catherine Koontz.
Raynie Theis returns as the only senior in the West Virginia lineup. A Bloomington, Minn., native, Theis possesses an eye-catching serve and volley which has helped her to flourish as the team's most experienced player. Last season she owned a doubles record of 13-7.
Junior Catherine Koontz returns to the lineup for the Mountaineers as being one of the most versatile players in the lineup. The Lexington, N.C., native uses her extremely strong baseline skills to be able to fill any position with success as well as being a major force on the doubles side.
An outstanding junior with a great work ethic and team first attitude, Ashley Constantine looks to contribute once again for the Mountaineers. The Binghamton, N.Y., native used her tenacity to show a strong showing at the Penn State Invitational by going 3-1 and making it to the semifinal round.
The Mountaineers will travel to Pacific Palisades, Calif., to take part in the Riveria Championships Saturday, October 1-4, 2005.
