May 12, 2003

With a young team and seven players on the roster that included four freshman and one sophomore, the George Mason women's tennis team suffered through some growing pains en route to a 5-12 overall record and 1-7 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Secured at the top singles position by the team's lone senior in Dinali DeSilva (Negombo, Sri Lanka/Stafford International School), the Patriots were forced to rely on their youth to develop quickly as freshmen filled two of the next three positions, as well as the No. 6 slot.

DeSilva posted an 8-17 overall record, playing primarily at No. 1, while freshman Jenn Dektas (Maineville, OH/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) owned a 6-16 mark in the No. 2 spot.

Sophomore Katie Sloper (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) and freshman Kelly Melichar (Burke, VA/Lake Braddock) split time at #3 and #4 singles for most of the season. Sloper recorded the most wins of any player on the team, going 11-18, while Melichar closed the year at 6-19.

Junior Deepti Bhalla (Lorton, VA/Hayfield), who entered the starting lineup midway through the season, put together a 2-9 record at the No. 5 slot. Freshmen Caroline Kanaskie (West Chester, PA/Unionville) and Kathleen Moore (Franklin, VA/Franklin) also split time at #6, where Kanaskie was 0-7 overall and Moore was 2-4.

In doubles action, the tandem of DeSilva and Dektas proved formidable as the pair claimed a 7-8 record as the No. 1 doubles team. Bhalla and Kanaskie also saw action together, going 3-2 at No. 3.

Mason opened the dual match season in the fall with a 5-2 victory over North Carolina A&T at home. In the spring, the Patriots picked up wins over Morgan State and Coppin State as well. George Mason earned perhaps its biggest win of the season with a 4-3 triumph over league foe Hofstra in New York during the regular season, as Moore pulled out a three-set victory at No. 6. The Patriots would win two straight over the Pride following a 4-2 win in the first round of the CAA Championships.