George Washington University

Jan. 12, 2012

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After landing a fourth-place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship just one season ago, the George Washington women’s tennis team was chosen to finish third at the 2012 tournament, the league announced Thursday. The conference’s preseason poll is voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.

Richmond, the winner of eight A-10 crowns since 2001-02, was selected to finish first this season, followed by Temple in second. Championship runner-up Saint Louis was picked to finish fourth, followed by Massachusetts (fifth), Xavier (sixth) and Charlotte (seventh). Duquesne and Fordham tied for the eighth spot, while Dayton (10^th), Saint Joseph’s (11^th), Rhode Island (12^th), St. Bonaventure (13^th) and La Salle (14^th) rounded out the remainder of the selections.

The Colonials welcome back five members of the 2011 starting line up, including First Team All-Conference selection senior Jacqueline Corba and Second Team selections sophomores Julia Blakeley and Leah Pascarella.

Corba, a three-time All-Conference honoree, wrapped up her junior season with a 9-7 record at the No. 1 singles spot and a 7-6 mark at No. 1 doubles. Blakeley posted a 10-5 record at the No. 2 singles spot as a freshman, while Pascarella recorded an 11-6 mark at No. 3 singles. Blakeley and Pascarella went 4-6 in doubles action together at both the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.

The Colonials, who finished the 2010-11 season with 15 wins, open 2012 with four straight non-conference road matches. GW will host five matches at Mount Vernon Tennis Center, including Division II California (Pa.), non-conference opponents Morgan State and Towson and reigning A-10 champion Richmond.

“We are looking forward to an exciting spring season,” said eighth-year head coach Dawn Buth. “We have six strong conference opponents on our regular-season schedule, as well as impressive out-of-conference competition.”

The Colonials first travel to Old Dominion on Jan. 28 before taking on St. Francis (Pa.) on Jan. 29. The Buff and Blue then continue their non-league slate at West Virginia and Drexel on Feb. 11 and 12.

GW kicks off A-10 play with back-to-back matches with Xavier and Duquesne on Feb. 18 and 19, followed by a non-conference match with James Madison on Feb. 25. The Colonials return to league action at Temple on Feb. 26.

GW hosts its first match of the season when it welcomes nearby Morgan State on March 3. The Colonials then compete at Navy on March 4 and at A-10 foe Fordham on March 10.

Returning to Mount Vernon for three straight matches, GW hosts Richmond on March 15, followed by California (Pa.) on March 24 and Towson on March 30. The Colonials travel to George Mason on April 1 and Longwood on April 6 before returning home to host Saint Joseph’s for their final home match of the season. GW closes out regular-season play at cross-town rival Howard on April 15.

“The conference looks exceptionally competitive this year, and wins and losses will be measured in inches,” Buth said. “To be successful against A-10 opponents you have to approach every practice and every match as though we are competing for those inches.”

The 2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Tennis Championship, a single-elimination event, will be held April 19-22 at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va.

2012 A-10 WOMEN’S TENNIS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(2011 A-10 Championship finish in parentheses)

1. Richmond (1st)
2. Temple (3rd)
3. George Washington (4th)
4. Saint Louis (2nd)
5. Massachusetts (5th)
6. Xavier (T-7th)
7. Charlotte (6th)
T8. Duquesne (T-7th)
T8. Fordham (10th)
10. Dayton (9th)
11. Saint Joseph’s (T-11th)
12. Rhode Island (T-11th)
13. St. Bonaventure (T-13th)
14. La Salle (T-13th)