After having a plethora of experience the past few seasons, the 2012 George Mason women's tennis team is going through a bit of a youth movement.  In terms of eligibility, the Patriots have seven out of 10 players on the roster who are sophomores or freshmen. 

However, the three remaining veterans have already made a great impact on the program, and will look to build off their success.

The team is coming off an 18-15 season, including three returning players (Brooke Blackwell, Kiersten Pappas, and Alison Wingo) who finished with 10 or more singles wins.

Head coach Steve Curtis stated the team goal is to reach the 16-18 win mark.  The Patriots will also look to improve on their play within the conference after going 0-7 last year.  The task will not be easy, as four teams in the CAA (Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion, William & Mary, and Georgia State) are all in the top 75 national rankings, with UNCW, and JMU not far behind.  Despite the steep heights, coach Curtis has an optimistic outlook on the team's construction.

Here is a breakdown of this year's roster:

Seniors

Brooke Blackwell:  The lone senior and a leader on the team, Blackwell is coming off another strong season, posting a 19-8 overall singles record, with a 17-6 record in duals play.  Blackwell will look to exceed the career 60-win mark this season.  She is expected to play in the No. 3 and No. 4 singles position.  Blackwell, “Hits a penetrating ball and very solid stroke production from both sides,” said coach Curtis.

Juniors

Kiersten Pappas:  Pappas, or “KK” as she is known on the team, is the team captain who battled injury all last season requiring surgery over the summer.  Pappas, “Leads by example with hard work and terrific all-around player,” said coach Curtis.  Despite the injury, Pappas still managed to win 10 singles matches, along with 16 more wins in doubles.  Pappas earned All-CAA third team honors in singles and doubles as a freshman and will now look to get back to that level.  Pappas will play out of the No. 1 singles and doubles position.

Alison Wingo:  A, “Good moving aggressive baseliner who can attack and make use of a strong swinging volley,” said coach Curtis.  Wingo is coming off a 20-win sophomore campaign and has filled any and every role for the Patriots.  Wingo normally plays in the No. 2 and No. 3 singles position and No. 2 doubles position.  However, because of injuries, Wingo has embraced the challenge of filling in at the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles.  Wingo will look to surpass the 40th career singles win this season.

Andrea Londen:  Londen has also battled injury.  Despite being an academic junior, she is a redshirt sophomore in terms of eligibility after sitting out last year due to injury.  “With her strong volley and net play, she is expected to break the doubles line-up when fully healthy,” said coach Curtis.

Sophomores

Ashley Delaney:  Delaney is coming off an incredible freshman year, going 18-10 in singles, and 20-9 in doubles.  Delaney is, “An aggressive all court player.  She can open up the court with her top-spin angles and powerful game,” said coach Curtis.  Delaney will likely play out of the No. 2 and No. 3 singles positions, along with the No. 2 doubles position.

Kate Desiatnikova:  The St. Petersburg, Russia native provided a spark to the Patriots' line-up when needed, posting a 7-4 singles record and 8-4 doubles record.  Desiatnikova, “Hits a heavy ball and has a big serve,” said coach Curtis.  Coach Curtis also said Desiatnikova has drastically improved her movement on the court.  Desiatnikova will look to see time in both singles and doubles action.

Freshmen

Liza Davis:  “A great addition to the team with her aggressive all-court game.  A good mover with a strong volley and comfortable at the net,” said coach Curtis.  Davis is expected to play both singles and doubles in the middle to higher ranked positions.

Tori Zalewski:  “A hard-hitting flat ball player who can put the ball away from anywhere on the court,” said coach Curtis.  Zalewski is expected to battle for time at the No. 6 singles spot.

Sara Novakovic:  The Oslo, Norway native will look to break the line-up between the No. 4 and No. 6 position.  Novakovic brings a wealth of match experience according to coach Curtis.  She, “Is an aggressive shot maker with very good court sense and movement,” he said.

Amber Peters:  The walk-on has made quite the impression, showing drastic improvement since the beginning of fall semester according to coach Curtis.  Peters will look to provide depth in the latter end of the line-up for the Patriots.