The Georgetown men’s and women’s teams anticipate a strong spring season after impressive showings in tournaments in the fall. Reflecting on the fall season, Head Coach Gordie Ernst said, “The top goal you want to have is you want teams to come together and be this cohesive unit, and they did that.” He sees both teams as having a unique blend of talent and experience that should be, at the very least, competitive in Big East play.
The experience of co-captain senior on the men’s team Andy Dottino was missed in the fall because of a shoulder injury, but his return to form is something to look forward to in the spring. His return along with the steadying presence of co-captain Casey Distaso will help steer this young team through the intensity of collegiate team tennis. Coach Ernst commented on the largest difference in the spring season: “In the fall you’re still playing for yourself because you’re not playing team events.” It will represent a new experience for many on the team.
Two important young players on the team are freshman Yannik Mahlangu and sophomore Daniel Khanin who both will play key roles in the upcoming spring season, the collegiate tennis season begins in the fall and runs through the second semester. Mahlangu, the first five-star recruit for the men’s team in years will continue to develop, and Khanin is, in the words of Coach Ernst, “capable of beating anyone in the country.”
The emergence of freshman Sophia Barnard highlighted the fall season for the women’s team, which also saw strong performances from seniors Kelly Comolli and Madeline Jaeger. Unfortunately, the womens’ team faced a rash of injuries, underscored by the loss of freshmen Victoire Saperstein and Madeline Foley during the fall season. Saperstein was the first five-star recruit that Coach Ernst brought in during his tenure, and her addition would have brought a needed punch to the roster.
This year, conference realignment took Louisville, South Florida, and Syracuse away from the Big East. Without these traditional powerhouses, both the men’s and women’s teams will have a better chance of a strong campaign, even though they will face tough competition from DePaul, Marquette, and St. John’s.
The next home match for the men’s team is Feb. 5 against Richmond, and the next home match for the women’s team is Feb. 7 against St. John’s.
