After a seven match winning streak, Georgetown University’s Women’s Tennis team finished the 2012-2013 season on a bleak note, losing to the Cincinnati Bearcats in the consolation round of the Big East Tournament.
The team enters this year with a different end goal in sight. “You know what would be great, this year, would be to finish strong,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said. “Last year we just kind of limped through the finish line. We had a great winning streak going, we beat some good teams and then all of a sudden we just ran out of gas. It’d be great if we could peak at the end of the year, at the Big East tournament.”
This year, the team boasts a slate of new players as well as numerous veterans. With four new freshmen, the team is quite young, but that doesn’t seem to concern Ernst.
“The new freshmen are terrific. If we can get Victoire [Saperstein] healthy, she’s a very strong player that had a great national career,” he said. “Sophie Bernard, the same thing. She’s beating all my veterans in my trial matches. Then we have Maggie [Psyhogeos], Mimi [Lynham], and Maddy [Foley], and they’re just really good kids who have a strong work ethic and I think they’re going to work really well in this atmosphere.”
Ernst looks to the captains and upperclassmen to provide leadership and solidarity for the team.
“Our veterans are Kelly Comoli, Maddie Jeager, and Sophie Panarese and they’ve been through so many matches and tough battles … so having their experiences with the young ones is invaluable… They were part of the William and Mary win. They all didn’t finish great. They want to redeem themselves,” said Ernst.
For senior captain Kelly Comoli, this year provides ample opportunity for success.
“Obviously there’s a new conference alignment so there’s a big opportunity for us to do well this year. I think the biggest thing for us … is just setting the tone … during every practice working hard each day, day in and day out.”
The Hoyas’ first tournament will be the Georgetown Classic at home on Friday, September 20th.
“The whole thing about September is that you fill with hope. You get new kids that come in with veterans and … that’s really exciting,” said Ernst. “Every year I do this, I’m more excited at this point because of what can happen.”
