Sept. 16, 2013
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown women's tennis program added six new student-athletes for the upcoming 2013-2014 season.
The Hoyas' new roster includes four incoming freshman, a sophomore walk-on and a transfer from the University of Houston.
Freshman Sophia Barnard (Mill Neck, N.Y./Portledge School) adds a lot to the team. Head Coach Gordie Ernst said, "She's got great enthusiasm for the game and for the team. It's very contagious."
Ernst remarked about Barnard's competitive spirit and gamer-attitude that has led her to flourish in the New York area and eastern section of the U.S. where tennis competition is plentiful. Ernst said that Barnard is looking forward to getting back to playing in that same type of environment when she steps onto the court on Friday for the Georgetown Classic.
Freshman Victoire Saperstein (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School), who like Sophia Barnard has been playing at national tournaments for years, comes to Georgetown after being recruited at other schools. "She wanted to come to a school and impact a program," Ernst said. Ernst continued that Saperstein has recently been nursing an injury that may keep her sideline from the Georgetown Classic.
Like Saperstein, sophomore University of Houston-transfer Liselot Koenen (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) is also coming back from an injury which forced her to redshirt in the spring of 2013. "Liselot [Koenen] and Victoire [Saperstein] have both been very diligent about their rehab." Ernst stated.
Koenen brings experience to the squad as she played in every singles and doubles match for Houston in the 2011-2012 season. She tied for the second-most wins on the squad in singles play that year with 14 wins to seven losses when she played at the number three to six slots for Cougars. Ernst also said about Koenen, "She is going to really help our doubles play as well. She's a good athlete and brings that competitive spirit, but we just have to make sure that the injury is okay."
Sophomore Mimi Lynham (Chevy Chase, Md./Holton-Arms) walked-on to the Hoyas' tennis squad for the 2013-2014 season after just missing out on the team last season. "I'm really proud of her. She worked hard over the past year," Ernst said. The Maryland-native served as her high school's tennis captain for two years. Like so many other student-athletes on the team, she comes from a very athletic family which includes a sister who is a nationally-ranked player.
Freshman Madeline Foley (Salt Lake City, Utah/Rowland Hall St. Marks), a scholar athlete who won singles state championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012, played at the number one position for all four years at Rowland Hall St. Marks High School where she also served as the captain her senior season.
Foley and freshman Margaret Psyhogeos (Wellesley, Mass./Noble and Greenough) have added to the team already with their "great enthusiasm and desire to get better," said Ernst. Psyhogeos, a standout at the Noble and Greenough School, also played in the number one position in high school while serving as the team captain her senior season.
"The chemistry of the team right now is great. It's really solid and that's what we've had the past four years; just fantastic team chemistry and we have that going again. So for now it's getting healthy and getting experience," Ernst said. "And then you have Sophie, Maddie, Kelly and Taylor who have played a ton of matches."
Head Coach Gordie Ernst stated that Sophie Panarese (Milton, Mass./Milton Academy), Madeline Jaeger (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach), Kelly Comolli (Newburyport, Mass./Philips Exeter Academy) and Taylor Perz (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) will be great leaders for the incoming six student-athletes.
Co-captains Kelly Comolli and Madeline Jaeger enter the 2013-2014 season as the squad's lone seniors. "We are going to enjoy every minute [with Comolli and Jaeger]. They've been great teammates and girls to coach. I am going to enjoy every minute to coach their last year here at Georgetown," said Ernst.
Head Coach Gordie Ernst enters his eighth season at Georgetown. Last season, Ernst led the women's squad to an overall record of 15-8 which included a 6-2 home record and a 7-2 mark the road.
Former Georgetown men's tennis student-athlete Brian Ward joins the men's and women's tennis programs as the Assistant Coach.
The women are in action for the first time of the fall at the Georgetown Classic from Fri., Sept 20 through Sun., Sept. 22. Action begins at the McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex on the Georgetown University Campus at 9 a.m. on Friday.
