BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's tennis team begins its spring season March 8 in Florida and will rely heavily on young standout returners as they begin the spring portion in the Landmark Conference.
First-year Director of Tennis Art Smith takes on his new role as the head coach of both the men's and women's teams and knows his squad will rise to the occasion. After a successful fall, he has high hopes of the squad returning to Landmark Conference Championships after falling 5-4 to The Catholic University of America in 2013-14 semi-finals.
"The women had a good start in the fall," said Smith. "We're were 2-0 and did a nice job at ITAs in Fredericksburg, Virginia, but this is a different team that we are going into the spring with. We have had some lineup changes since the fall. Last year, they had four seniors and three solid players compared to our young and inexperienced team that only has one senior, Sophia Osbourne. While we only return two players who have varsity experience from last year. So we are young but improving each day."
Junior captain Courtnie Lambert has kept the group motivated as the team has been practicing relentlessly in the ARC and at Winning Touch Tennis indoor facility in Allentown, Pa. in preparation for the spring schedule which starts in Orlando, Florida. While in Orlando they will compete against four high caliber teams in four days opening against Howard-Payne (Texas) University and concluding with a match against Cornell (Iowa) College.
"Florida will be a unique experience," stated Smith. "It'll be the first time the men and the women will be traveling together. I am a little concerned playing four matches at both singles and doubles in four days with only six players. Although the women have conditioned very hard in the off season we just hope the weather it's not too hot at this time.
"The spring training trip has been a great experience for the men and hope for the same for the women as long as they have the right attitude about knowing this competition is going to be tough but it's only going to make us better. We are going to look to experiment down there playing some different combinations at both singles and doubles and hopefully be ready for the start of Landmark season."
Lambert played in the fourth singles spot and third doubles this fall after posting an 11-5 mark at sixth singles a year ago. Brittney Eady returns for her sophomore campaign looking to make an impact as big as last year. Eady was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team in singles and Second Team in doubles. She was also honored as Rookie of the Year after a 16-4 overall record in singles and 17-3 overall doubles record in 2014.
"Courtnie has been terrific," commented Smith. "She earned the role of captain. She works hard in practice and is very good with the rest of the team. She is a very steady player and has two years varsity experience which gives us high expectations in both singles and doubles.
Smith continued, "Brittney is the returning conference Rookie of the Year and is an outstanding talent. She is a very good player who had great freshman season and she will have to move up to the top position and probably play the number one spot which is a new ball game. She has worked hard thus far and has exhibited a real positive attitude and we are expecting her to be a leader both on and off the court."
Sophomores Noel Ferraro and Roberta Scantlebury return to the squad, joining them are senior Sophia Osbourne and freshman Skylar Oliwa and Caitlin Adams. Osbourne was 4-4 in singles as a freshman as Oliwa and Adams got a taste of their first collegiate tennis action during the fall and will continue to grow as the spring season continues.
Smith spoke highly of his young squad saying, "Our senior Sophia played the fall of her freshman year but stepped away from the sport but decided to return this year and has been very good so far being excellent in practice and put in the effort in the off season with conditioning and has been a pleasant surprise and will be solid in singles and doubles.
Smith continued, "Noel and Roberta both return this season, while neither of them had much experience playing last year they are going to be expected to fill in this spring after working hard on their play and conditioning. They will either play singles or doubles and quite possibly both.
"We have two very good freshman who both played well this fall and have a lot of potential. They are both improving as the year goes on and are going to be an integral part of the team for the next four years," commented Smith.
The Greyhounds return to the Hoffman Courts in Bethlehem to open up both the home season against Division II East Stroudsburg University on March 20 and have their first Landmark Conference dual match against The University of Scranton on Saturday, April 12.
