Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks to challenge for league title
2/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The Mountain Hawks will seek a Patriot League championship in the 2007 season after falling just short last season with a loss to Bucknell in the semifinals. Despite Lehigh’s loss in the tournament the Mountain Hawks took second place in the league with an overall record of 9-10 and 3-2 in the Patriot League. This season the Mountain Hawks will lose only one senior and team captain for the second year in a row, and will again look to fill the void with experienced upperclassmen.
The absence of former captain Starrine Foster ’06 will be felt both on and off the court. Head coach Dave Shook hopes to replace his former leader with the squad’s co-captains Gwen Dwyer and Francesca Murasko-Blank. “The season’s success will be predicated on the leadership effort and what these girls can do to motivate the players.” Shook explains.
Dwyer, a two-time captain and two-time first team All-League selection, will look to once again lead the team as she resumes her role as the team’s top singles and doubles competitor. Her 8-11 singles record, including 3-2 in conference play, helped to guide the Mountain Hawks to a third straight tournament appearance. Dwyer also set the mark in doubles as she amassed nine wins including three in Patriot League competition.
“Gwen will continue to have success this year as she looks for a league title,” Shook says. “I think she will be player of the year. Who can beat her?”
Shook’s confidence in Dwyer is backed by her career 28 singles and 34 doubles victories, her incredible work ethic and her dual success in the classroom where she posted a 3.60 GPA last season placing her on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll along with five of her teammates.
Fellow senior and co-captain, Francesca Murasko-Blank will also provide the squad with solid leadership and skills as she looks to once again power through the Patriot League after coming off of a 13-5 record at fifth and sixth flight singles, including five of six conference wins. Murasko-Blank’s work ethic coupled with Dwyer’s domination on the court will combine to help the squad in their quest for a league title.
Sophomores Ariela Cohen and Allison Schwartz will also be called upon to step up their game as they move into some of the team’s top spots.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Schwartz and Cohen playing together and pacing the team,” Shook explains. “Along with Dwyer they are a hell of a one-two-three punch.”
Both players found themselves making an impact in their rookie efforts as each recorded eight doubles wins, with Cohen notching six singles wins, and Schwartz registering nine singles wins including four in the Patriot League. The sophomore duo hopes to once again assert themselves as top players both at Lehigh and within the league.
Junior Alexis Jacobi joins her older teammates in their quest to dominate the league and hopes to improve on her sophomore effort that included an overall record of 8-9 and a league record of 4-1 at third and fifth flight singles. She will also look to once again capture one of the top doubles spots.
Julie Arthofer will round out this experienced squad and will fill the lone graduate’s spot as an incoming freshman. This nationally ranked
Coach Shook knows he will need to work his team hard in order to make a repeat appearance at the Patriot League tournament but is confident that his squad is ready for the challenge. With a strong newcomer and a successful and tenacious group of upperclassmen, he will go into the season with confidence.
“I expect to win it all,” Shook explains. “We have the team to win it; there is no doubt about that.”
Lehigh will open the spring season on Sunday when the Mountain Hawks host Fairleigh Dickinson at the
