Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, February 3
Bethlehem, Pa.
3 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Drexel University
Women's Tennis Set to Open Play with Weekend Home Stand
2/1/2018 4:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's tennis team is set to open the 2018 season with a pair of home matches this weekend inside the Lewis Tennis Center. The Mountain Hawks will square off against Drexel at 3 p.m. Saturday before facing Saint Francis Sunday at 2 p.m.
Lehigh will look to build off a solid 2017 campaign in which they went 10-9 overall and 4-3 in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks garnered the fourth seed heading into last year's Patriot League Tournament and posted a 4-0 victory over fifth-seeded Colgate before falling, 4-2, against top-seeded Army West Point in the semifinal round.
Under first-year head coach Sarah Short, the Mountain Hawks return six players from last year's squad, including five starters from a season ago. Three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection and senior co-captain Christina Auyeung looks to retain her spot at No. 1 singles and doubles for the fourth-straight year as she tied for the team lead with 12 singles wins last season. Lehigh also returns sophomore Sibel Can, the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, to the lineup as she also compiled 12 singles wins last season while playing at the No. 2 flight. Can also tied for the team lead with 11 doubles wins while playing primarily at the second spot.
The Mountain Hawks also return the middle of their lineup from last season with senior co-captain Briana Maravich and junior Grace Lin. A three-year starter, Maravich competed exclusively in singles play last season while competing primarily at the No. 4 flight. A two-year starter, Lin competed primarily at the No. 3 singles and doubles flights last season.
Sophomore Leigh Friedman returns to the lineup after competing exclusively as a doubles player in her rookie campaign. Senior Kirstin Godau rounds out the group of returners who was a key contributor in limited action last season.
(2/1/2018) Women's Tennis Preview
Coach Short ushered in three freshmen to the squad in the fall who have raised the already strong level of talent on the team and will create a competitive environment among the squad. Paula Gonzalez, Catherine Meighan and Casey Zhong all competed during the fall season as they were introduced to the college game. Zhong headlined the group out of the fall season as she reached the singles finals at the Moore Invitational, captured a consolation doubles title at the West Point Invite and a consolation singles title at the Patriot League Kickoff.
Lehigh's two matches this weekend begins a stretch of eight-straight home matches for the Mountain Hawks. Following the home stand, Lehigh will once again head west to California for spring break where they will face strong competition against Azusa Pacific and Calremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Following its California trip, LU returns home and opens up Patriot League play against Loyola on March 18, which begins a four-match home stand to close out the month.
The last chance to see the Mountain Hawks at home will be Mar. 31 when they host league foe Colgate. Lehigh will open up the final month of the season with a pair of road league matches, including a trip to Easton on April 9 for the annual showdown with archrival Lafayette.
The season will conclude with the Patriot League Championships on Apr. 19-22 at the United States Military Academy.
Lehigh will look to build off a solid 2017 campaign in which they went 10-9 overall and 4-3 in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks garnered the fourth seed heading into last year's Patriot League Tournament and posted a 4-0 victory over fifth-seeded Colgate before falling, 4-2, against top-seeded Army West Point in the semifinal round.
Under first-year head coach Sarah Short, the Mountain Hawks return six players from last year's squad, including five starters from a season ago. Three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection and senior co-captain Christina Auyeung looks to retain her spot at No. 1 singles and doubles for the fourth-straight year as she tied for the team lead with 12 singles wins last season. Lehigh also returns sophomore Sibel Can, the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, to the lineup as she also compiled 12 singles wins last season while playing at the No. 2 flight. Can also tied for the team lead with 11 doubles wins while playing primarily at the second spot.
The Mountain Hawks also return the middle of their lineup from last season with senior co-captain Briana Maravich and junior Grace Lin. A three-year starter, Maravich competed exclusively in singles play last season while competing primarily at the No. 4 flight. A two-year starter, Lin competed primarily at the No. 3 singles and doubles flights last season.
Sophomore Leigh Friedman returns to the lineup after competing exclusively as a doubles player in her rookie campaign. Senior Kirstin Godau rounds out the group of returners who was a key contributor in limited action last season.
Coach Short ushered in three freshmen to the squad in the fall who have raised the already strong level of talent on the team and will create a competitive environment among the squad. Paula Gonzalez, Catherine Meighan and Casey Zhong all competed during the fall season as they were introduced to the college game. Zhong headlined the group out of the fall season as she reached the singles finals at the Moore Invitational, captured a consolation doubles title at the West Point Invite and a consolation singles title at the Patriot League Kickoff.
Lehigh's two matches this weekend begins a stretch of eight-straight home matches for the Mountain Hawks. Following the home stand, Lehigh will once again head west to California for spring break where they will face strong competition against Azusa Pacific and Calremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Following its California trip, LU returns home and opens up Patriot League play against Loyola on March 18, which begins a four-match home stand to close out the month.
The last chance to see the Mountain Hawks at home will be Mar. 31 when they host league foe Colgate. Lehigh will open up the final month of the season with a pair of road league matches, including a trip to Easton on April 9 for the annual showdown with archrival Lafayette.
The season will conclude with the Patriot League Championships on Apr. 19-22 at the United States Military Academy.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
2026 Women's Tennis Season Preview
Friday, January 23
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Tennis
Thursday, April 17
2024-2025 Women's Tennis Season Preview
Thursday, January 30
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Tennis
Wednesday, March 06
