Most teams, in any sport, would be pretty handcuffed if they were to lose not one or two, but three of their top six players from the previous season. But the 11th ranked women's tennis squad is an exception to the rule.
With the graduation of stalwart Barclay Gang, as well as juniors Becky Bram and Lisa Miller studying abroad (Miller for the whole year), the depth of this year's batch of Jumbos will be challenged. But longtime assistant and now head coach Doug Eng, replacing now-men's coach Jim Watson, is not worried.
"We have probably the best depth in the league right now, and possibly in all of Division III," he said. "But how we do still depends on the girls doing the job."
Gone are three players who last season alone were a combined 37-21 in singles and had a winning record in countless doubles matches. But there are proven players ready to inhabit the spots vacated by Gang, Bram and Miller. Senior tri-captain Trina Spear, having gone 28-7 in her career out of mainly the seventh and eighth slots in the lineup, is looking to have a breakout year.
"Trina has proven she can win," Eng said. "I'm really pumped to see what she can do, and I think she is too."
Another senior tri-captain, Neda Pisheva, will be looking to break into the singles ranks after amassing quite the solid reputation as a doubles specialist. Her 27-14 career doubles record speaks for itself. Her main doubles partner, Gang, will have to be replaced. Eng has a multitude of possibilities in mind for the spot.
"[Sophomore] Kylyn [Deary] has been working real hard this summer and she deserves to move up in doubles and singles," he said.
Deary played any where from spots three to six last year in singles.
Not to be forgotten are the formidable one-two punch of senior tri-captain Jen Lejb and sophomore Jennifer Luten. Luten made quite a splash last year, going 19-5 and earning a spot along with Lejb at the NCAA tournament at Rhodes College in Tennessee.
The duo also amassed a 13-8 record in doubles, which can be misleading seeing as they were facing the best each team had to offer every match. The bulls-eye was square on their backs, but they rose to the challenge more often than not. They will look to do the same this year.
This year will mark the end of Lejb's stellar career as a Jumbo. With a 36-11 career singles record, Lejb will be matching up with the best the NESCAC has to offer from the number one spot, just as she has done the last two years.
Among newcomers to the team this year are freshmen Lani Ackerman, Andrea Cenko and Megan Gentezler.
"With the new girls coming in, we should be as good, if not stronger, than we were last fall," Eng said. But there were admittances that losing Bram will be a problem.
"Obviously, I think we will have a better team come the spring, when Becky comes back," Eng said. "But this fall I am confident that we will be great."
The squad opens up September 15 at non-league opponent Smith College. Within the league, though, Eng sees the toughest challenge coming from Middlebury, whom the Jumbos meet October 3.
"Amherst and Williams are the toughest, but we don't face them [in a duel match] until the spring," Eng said. "So we'll be pumped up for Middlebury."
The team finished at 11-4 overall last season, despite going 8-0 in the fall.
