WESTON, Mass. – Buoyed by a veteran core, the Regis College women's tennis team enters the fall competition season with an eye on contending for the conference title.
New head coach Alex Wong takes over a team with four seniors who were consistently in the lineup during the 2019-20 season. The squad also features four other student-athletes who are aiming to quickly establish their role, as the fall schedule moves along quickly through the next month-and-a-half.
"It's been great getting to know everybody. The first-year players have fit in right away, so I'm really excited with how they've integrated into the group," said Wong. "I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do collectively."
In 2019, Katelyn Mogelnicki (Wethersfield, Conn.) earned First Team All-GNAC recognition after winning all seven conference singles matches, while Lauren Mogelnicki (Wethersfield, Conn.) posted a 6-1 singles mark in GNAC play two years ago. Kaeleigh FitzPatrick (South Windsor, Conn.) contributed a 5-2 GNAC singles record, and Kaitlyn Colby (Merrimac, Mass.) won all three singles matches as well as five of six doubles sets she competed in during league play.
"Our ultimate goal is to build a strong foundation, to improve every single day, and to maximize our potential as best we can," continued Wong.
In the GNAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll, four of the seven teams received at least one first place vote, with the Pride leading the way with three first place votes and 42 total points. Simmons University and Colby-Sawyer College picked up one first place vote apiece as the Saints ended up second with 40 points, just ahead of the Chargers with 38 points. Eastern Nazarene, fourth in the poll with 28 points, received the other two first place votes.
After three straight non-conference home matches to start the season, Regis is scheduled to open conference play at Eastern Nazarene Saturday, Sept. 11, with the first GNAC home contest against Albertus Magnus the following Saturday, Sept. 18. Of note, the Pride will host Simmons Saturday, Sept. 25, and will travel to face Colby-Sawyer Wednesday, Oct. 6.
The top six teams will advance to the GNAC Women's Tennis Tournament, with first round matches hosted by the third and fourth seeds Wednesday, Oct. 13. The top two seeds will receive byes into the semifinals, set to take place at the Winchester Indoor Tennis Center Saturday, Oct. 16. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 17, with the winner receiving the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
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