By Lily Giering, Sports Information Student Assistant
WASHINGTON, Pa. – After finishing in a tie for fifth place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference last year, the Washington and Jefferson College women's tennis team looks to climb back towards the upper half of the conference standings in 2023.
"Our season has started off well. We've got a great group of returning players this season," said head coach
Megan Foster. "All of them took the time over the summer to perfect their game and it shows. I expect the season to be challenging. However, they know what is expected of them. Our focus is doubles teams. Something we have lacked in recent years."
2022-23 Season Review: The Presidents finished with a 3-9 overall record and put together a 3-5 record in PAC play last fall.
The Presidents defeated Saint Vincent (7-2), Waynesburg (9-0), and Thiel (7-2) in conference play.
The three wins helped W&J tie Geneva and Saint Vincent for fifth place. W&J earned the tiebreaker and faced fourth-seeded Westminster in the quarterfinals. The Presidents fell short by a 5-3 score to the Titans in New Wilmington.
Nidhi Pulicherla (Chandler, Ariz. / Hamilton),
Bella Goldman (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper Saint Clair),
Gloria Johnson and
Jaelyn Kennedy (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) all received 2022 All-PAC Women's Tennis recognition for their strong seasons.
Pulicherla and Goldman both picked up a pair of wins in the quarterfinal loss to Westminster. Pulicherla with respective victories at first singles and first doubles. Goldman teamed with Pulicherla at first doubles while also earning a victory at second singles.
PAC Player To Watch: Nidhi Pulicherla (Chandler, Ariz. / Hamilton)
"Nidhi is solid on the court. She knows what needs to be done at match time," Foster said. "She is always working on her game, as a player you have to deal with your weaknesses or else, they are exposed when in competition, she has done that."
| 2023 PAC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) |
| School (first-place votes) |
Points |
2022-23 record (conference) |
| 1. Allegheny College (7) |
63 |
19-5 (8-0 PAC) |
| 2. Franciscan University (2) |
57 |
11-8 (7-1 PAC) |
| 3. Grove City College |
50 |
12-5 (6-2 PAC) |
| 4. Westminster College |
43 |
16-5 (4-3 PAC) |
| 5. Saint Vincent College |
30 |
10-9 (3-5 PAC) |
| T-6. Geneva College |
29 |
8-6 (3-5 PAC) |
| T-6. W&J |
29 |
3-9 (3-5 PAC) |
| 8. Thiel College |
13 |
3-11 (1-7 PAC) |
| 9. Waynesburg University |
10 |
1-10 (0-7 PAC) |
Team Captains: Lisha Chadda and
Jaelyn Kennedy
"Having
Lisha Chadda and
Jaelyn Kennedy as our team captains has been wonderful for the team thus far," Foster said. "They bring experience, leadership and mentorship to the team. They have helped the team unity and serve as solid support for the returners and first-year players. They are also good mentors when it comes to balancing the obligations of being a student-athlete."
Returners: Lisha Chadda,
Emma Humphrey,
Jaelyn Kennedy,
Eden Ma,
Isabella Naddeo,
Kesioluwa Ogundipe,
Bailey Phillips,
Pooja Potluri, and
Nidhi Pulicherla.
Pulicherla had an impressive season last year earning back-to-back second team honors for both singles and doubles. Pulicherla had a singles record of (5-4) and was at the first spot on W&J's lineup. In last year's PAC quarterfinals Pulicherla won both her matches.
Kennedy finished out her junior year earning All-PAC honors for the second straight season. Alongside
Gloria Johnson (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) this duo finished (3-4) in the second doubles position.
Chadda returns this year in the role of captain after receiving All-PAC Second Team in the 2020-2021 season.
Newcomers: The W&J women's tennis team welcomes two new players this upcoming season who look to make an immediate impact in this 2023 season.
McKenzie Gensemer Fr. West Lawn, Pa. / Wilson
Riley Moore Fr. Holden, W.Va. / Logan
"
Riley Moore and
McKenzie Gensemer are newcomers this season and I'm really excited for both of them," Foster said. "Riley adds both strength and depth to the team coming off a successful high school career, specializing in doubles. Both players are fitting in their games are progressing every day."
Looking at the Schedule: The Red and Black are slated to open the season against Division II California University of Pennsylvania on Sunday, Sept. 3.
W&J starts Presidents' Athletic Conference play with back-to-back home matches at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center. W&J hosts Thiel College on Sept. 12 before welcoming Westminster College on Sept. 16.
The Presidents travel to Geneva College (Sept. 19) and Franciscan University of Steubenville (Sept. 26) for back-to-back league road matches. W&J opens October with a three-match week. W&J hosts Saint Vincent College (Oct. 3) before traveling to Waynesburg University (Oct. 5) and Grove City College (Oct. 7) for PAC matches.
A home match with the Allegheny College Gators (Oct. 14) rounds out the regular season slate.
The top six teams will qualify for the 2023 PAC Championship Tournament, which will take place following the conclusion of the regular season.
Last Word From Foster: "All of the women have brought their "A" game thus far.
Emma Humphrey,
Eden Ma,
Pooja Potluri, Bella Nadeo,
Bailey Phillips and Kesi Ogundipe have each shown some growth in their games, both technically and tactically. You can tell they all worked hard over the summer. Our conference continues to get stronger and it's going to be very competitive each match."
