Buckeyes Begin Preparation for 2010-11 Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On a cloudy day turned sunny, the Ohio State women’s tennis team kicked off its first practice of 2010-11 indoors at the Ohio State Varsity Tennis Center before moving outside to the Stickney Tennis Center. Check the photo gallery for pictures from the first practice sessions.
“We’re all excited,” head coach Chuck Merzbacher said during the first half of practice. “The new players are ready and the returning girls had great summers in off-court workouts and were competitive in tournaments.”
The Buckeyes, who finished last season with a program-record 20 wins and a first-round victory over DePaul in the NCAA tournament, welcome three freshmen – Tiffany Dittmer, Noelle Malley and Kelsey Becker – to join the returning core of netters – seniors Cami Hubbs and Paloma Escobedo, junior Kelsey Haviland and sophomores Gabby Steele, Kara Cecil and Fidan Manashirova.
“There’s a lot of chemistry already between the freshmen and the returning girls,” Merzbacher said. “It’s a really good fit right off the bat. It’s only the first day of practice and this team is showing a lot of leadership.”
The Scarlet and Gray begin the fall slate in Notre Dame, Ind., with the Notre Dame Invite Oct. 1-3 and in Pacific Palisades, Calif., at the ITA All-American Championships Oct. 2-10.
