When a tennis team’s first singles player can compete at the same level as its third doubles players, it knows it has the necessary depth it needs throughout its lineup.

This is the theme for the women’s tennis team this season. Strong all the way through the lineup, this squad is confident that every player can win her share of matches.

“Depth was a big proponent of our team and it is this year, too,” Head Coach Bill Austin said. “We have strong players pretty far down the ladder, and that helps win a lot of matches.”

Austin said he tries to recruit the strongest players he can find to fill out his lineup. He said the technique helps his team against some of its competition because while most teams drop off in talent at the bottom of their lineups, the Blue and Gold are strong from first singles to third doubles.

That strength was demonstrated in the Bombers’ first meet of the season against conference rival Elmira College. The Blue and Gold swept the match 9–0 without losing a set the entire match.

Sophomore Melanie Cohen said the early victory could be chalked up to how close the players are as a team. Though tennis tends to be an individual-based sport, senior Natalie Jenereski said when teammates are supportive, it is imperative to the player on the court.

“When you’re playing singles, to have your teammates cheering for you on the sideline helps when you’re out there competing by yourself against another team,” Cohen said.

Heading into this fall season, there were few adjustments that needed to be made from the 2007 season. Since last year, the team has lost only one senior and has just two freshmen joining the squad.

Rachel Gunderson ’08 was one of the top players on last year’s team but has remained a part of the team as an assistant coach. Jenereski said having “Gundo’s” experience around will be an integral part to the team.

“The team will be OK without her,” Jenereski said. “She was always very peppy, so it’s nice to have her as an assistant coach traveling with us.”

Jenereski also said the team’s two freshmen, Becky Campbell and Katrina Erdahl, are welcome additions to the team.

“They are two very good freshmen,” she said. “I’d rather have these two freshmen who are decent players than any 15 OK players.”

The Bombers have all of the necessary pieces in place to achieve their goal of repeating as conference champions. After easily dispatching Elmira as a conference rival, the Blue and Gold feel even more confident about facing their tougher conference foes such as Rochester Institute of Technology, Nazareth College and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Austin contributes the team’s consistent dominance in the conference and the unanimous preseason pick for the South Hill squad to win the Empire 8 championship in the preseason to skill and the team’s attitude.

“They just love tennis,” Austin said. “They know what they want to accomplish. They set goals, and they’re ready to go out and achieve them.”

For Austin, though, the most important parts about the team have nothing to do with tennis. What he is most impressed with is how well the team gets along and how positive the players are at all times.

“The team is driven and responsible,” Austin said. “I don’t need to micromanage them in order for them to do what’s needed to get results. They get along so well and like each other and make coming to practice fun.”

The combination of skill and a positive outlook is what will drive this team this season and will be instrumental in achieving its goal of a conference championship.

“We have a lot of good players,” Austin said. “But they’re not just good players; they’re good people.”