Women's tennis opens season Saturday at 1 p.m.
1/28/2010 5:30:00 AM | Women's Tennis
First the Bearkats play host to Texas-Pan American in a 1 p.m. match Saturday at the McAdams Tennis Center. Originally scheduled at 11 a.m. but the start time was moved back two hours due to weather.
Then, on Sunday, Sam Houston travels to Rice to take on the Owls at 1 p.m.
While many coaches might be concerned with only one veteran returning, Sam Houston's Jim Giachino is filled with excitement about his new players.
"With four freshmen, we're very young, but all five newcomers are athletic and talented and, as they gain experience, are going to make us extremely competitive in the Southland Conference," Giachino said.
Sophomore Giorgia Pozzan, who played number two singles and doubles last year, is the lone returning Bearkat.
Two of the four newcomers participated in fall tennis. Junior Cally Woerner and freshman Federica Denti along with Pozzan put up some impressive wins during the fall.
The "Italian Stallions," Pozzan and Denti teamed up at the Stephan F. Austin Fall Invitational and won the No.1 women's doubles championship. Pozzan reached the singles semifinals and Denti advanced to the finals in singles. Pozzan won in the consolation draw at No. 2 singles over SMU. Pozzan and Denti also had an outstanding tournament at the ITA Regional event in Waco.
"From a doubles standpoint, these players are exceptional," Giachino said. "Giorgia has extraordinary talent. Once she gets her technique firmly set in her head, it will be very to beat her. Cally is a transfer who is going to be a very strong Division I player over the next two years."
Denti is perhaps one of the most impressive players in the program. She ranked in the top 500 juniors in the ITF World rankings.
"Frederica is battling an injury right now and will not be available for the early matches which will hurt," Giachino said. "But when she gets going again, she will make an impact."
Joining the team this past week are Tatyana Postnikova, Nadia Dubyanskaya and Sherdan Currie.
Postnikova has an international ranking of 507 and is the doubles champion of Kazahkstan. Dubyanskaya is ranked No. 18 in Russia. Currie is ranked No. 2 regionally and No. 180 nationally in Australia and is the winner of the Western Australia state grasscourt doubles.
"The best thing about this team is the way the girls all are blending into a team," Giachino said. "They're young and eager and excited to start playing."
Admission to Sam Houston State women's tennis matches at the McAdams Tennis Courts is free.
For ticket information for all Bearkat sports events, go to www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located at the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office phone number is (936) 294-1729.
