Pair returns for senior season
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Women's tennis
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Head coach Joe Calarco welcomed back two four-year players when the Fredonia State women's tennis team convened this fall.
Elise Daigler (North Tonawanda) and Sierra Summerville (Mexico) have been teammates since they were freshmen. Now co-captains, they experienced a longer pre-season than in any of their previous three seasons. "We came back (to campus) one week early for the first time ever," Calarco said. "We've had double sessions and there's been a lot of team bonding. We're farther ahead than we've ever been."
Daigler will likely be the Blue Devils' No. 1 singles player when the season begins Saturday, Aug. 30, at Geneseo (the scheduled Aug. 29 home opener vs. Brockport was postponed and re-scheduled for next Thursday). Summerville and sophomore Anna Norris (Binghamton/Susquehanna Valley), one of six newcomers to the team, will vie for the No. 2 and No. 3 singles spots.
Two junior returnees, Mallory Long (Canandaigua) and Megan Zarzycki (Rochester/Irondequoit), are expected to be in Calarco's starting lineup vs. Geneseo. In addition to Norris, sophomore Calee Prindle (Geneva) and freshman Lauren Shirley (Homer/Cortland) have emerged as frontliners during pre-season practices.
"We have seven players vying for six starting spots," said Calarco, who will juggle his doubles' teams to get all seven involved. "All the others will play exhibitions for now."
Rounding out the 12-member team are two returnees and three other newcomers. The returnees are sophomore sophomore Stephanie Hale (Lockport/Starpoint) and senior Eteri Svanidze, a resident of Westfield but a graduate of the Yalta School in the Ukraine. The newcomers are sophomore Tara Slowik (Hamburg/Frontier), and freshmen Chelsea Ringen (Northport/Long Island Lutheran) and Lauren Shirley (Homer/Cortland).
"I think this is a stonger team," Calarco said, "but until we play anyone else I won't know for sure. The team is ready. I hope we can compete with and surprise some other teams."