Tennis gears up for preseason

By Myra Frederick
Staff Writer

The Lady Braves tennis team is warming up for the approaching season that begins the weekend of Sept. 26-28 when the ladies compete in the first of three preseason matches, the Cobra Fall Intercollegiate Tennis Invitational at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

Head coach Robin Langley said that the preseason tournaments help her and her staff to “find out the girls weaknesses before the season,” which will begin in January.

Prior to the preseason the ladies were engaged in strengthening workouts. Langley said that the girls have been working on upper and lower body conditioning, agility and flexibility.

“We have four girls right now, but two (more) are coming in the spring,” Langley said of the team’s roster.

They will have a full roster of six when the new players join the team in January. One of the new players will be coming from Australia and entering UNCP as a freshman. Langley would not comment in detail about the other prospective player because the individual has not yet signed with the university.

The four ladies that currently make up the squad are freshman Natalie Dies from British Columbia, Canada, sophomore Lauren Losoncy from Shillingten, Pa., and returning juniors Abi French from Avon, Ind. and Shannon Gentry from Mt. Airy. French and Gentry are team co-captains for the season.

“I am expecting them to lead the team both on and off the court,” Langley said of her captains adding that the juniors have really showed improvement from last season. Langley expects Losoncy to improve on her overall record this season.

“She’s a very strong player as well,” Langley said. Langley also expects good things from Dies.

“I expect that she will play in my top two positions,” Langley said.

The Lady Braves squad is looking to improve on last year’s 9-14 overall record, and with some additional talent may be able to do just that.

Sports Editor Chris Nicolini contributed to this article