New faces are going to be at the forefront this season on the area's girls tennis teams, promising a season that should come with a fair share of youthful excitement — and some growing pains.
Three of the four teams in the Armstrong School District graduated at least their No. 1 singles players from a year ago, and all are reshuffling their ladders. Elderton, meanwhile, is restarting its program after the school closed for the 2009-10 school year.
Such uncertainty and inexperience throughout the lineups may make it difficult to remain competitive in Section 4-AA, where Valley and Burrell always deliver strong squads. Indiana also joins the section.
With the start of section play less than a week away, the following is a look at what the area teams are bringing to the court:
Elderton
After coaching at West Shamokin in '09, Christie Orlosky is returning to her old post with the Bobcats. And not surprisingly, a rebuilding project awaits at the reopening school.
A respectable nine players have been reporting to practice so far, but only two of those have varsity experience: senior Ashley Rearick and junior Jenna Schrecengost. Both played under Orlosky at West Shamokin.
"I'm excited that I have the number of players I do," Orlosky said. "It's better than me thinking I'm not going to have a team at all."
Though they played mostly doubles last year, Rearick and Schrecengost are expected to take the top two singles positions. Orlosky said it's still undecided who will take the No. 1 spot.
With such an inexperienced roster, Rearick and Schrecengost also are doing some teaching themselves.
"They are phenomenal," Orlosky said. "They are so patient with the girls."
Ford City
The Sabers lost six seniors from last year's team, including three-year starter and No. 1 singles hitter Claire Wolfe. But Wolfe's understudy and last year's No. 2, junior Victoria Hendrickson, appears ready to fill the void.
"I think she'll do OK," Ford City's coach and Victoria's mother, Selina Hendrickson, said. "I think she'll do well at section singles and section doubles."
Selina Hendrickson is still a little unsure of how she wants to fill out the rest of the lineup. She pointed to seasoned junior doubles players Paige Brocious and Lauren Halahurich as a pair who are likely to start, though it's uncertain if they'll play singles or doubles. Promising sophomore Emily Lunz also is likely to crack the starting lineup.
"I really think we're going to see a big improvement form the start of the season to the end," Selina Hendrickson said. "They're still learning some skills. A lot of these girls got their first racket just last year."
Kittanning
Like Elderton and Ford City, Kittanning had a good idea of what the top of its singles ladder will look like. After that, things get cloudy.
Senior Lyndsey Wagner and junior Jessa Goldner, doubles players a year ago, are likely to fill in the No. 1 and 2 singles spots, coach Denny Zellefrow said.
"Lyndsey is going to have to adapt to the singles game, but she's a nice player and has a nice stroke," Zellefrow said. "The biggest adjustment is the coverage, because (former doubles players) are used to having someone pick up half of the court."
The No. 3 singles spot is up for grabs right now. Zellefrow said Carly Hoffman, Corrine Blodgett and Taylor Scholl are in the running for the position, though.
West Shamokin
The Wolves were hit hard by the departure of last year's Elderton transfer students and graduation losses. In fact, before first-year coach Erin Trithart was brought in earlier this week, there was reason to doubt if West Shamokin was going to have a team this fall.
With just three players at yesterday's practice, that prospect still looms. But for now, the Wolves are making due with what they have.
After spending the last school year at Lenape Tech, senior Victoria Black has returned to West Shamokin and the team. She's joined by senior Samantha Williams and junior Paige Gress.
Opening Day
Section play in girls tennis begins Wednesday across the WPIAL. Here are the Section 4-AA openers for the area's teams:
Burrell at Kittanning, 3:30 p.m.
Elderton at Indiana, 3:30 p.m.
Ford City at Springdale, 3:30 p.m.
Valley at West Shamokin, 3:30 p.m.
