Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tennis Falcons To Open Season By Hosting BGSU Invitational
September 24, 2003 | Women's Tennis
Sept. 24, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's tennis team begins the 2003-04 season this weekend, hosting the BGSU Invitational. The two-day, five-team event will be held Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 27-28) at Keefe Courts on the BGSU campus.
Keefe Courts are located off Stadium Drive, directly east of (behind) the BGSU Ice Arena and west of the Cochrane Field soccer complex.
Head coach Penny Dean enters her 14th season at the BGSU helm. She and the Falcons will host a tourney field that includes Ferris State, Indiana State, Wright State and Xavier. Team scores will not be kept, but individual singles and doubles flight champions will be named.
For the second consecutive season, Dean's Falcons lost just one senior from the previous year. Alyson Gabel has graduated, but the other nine members of the 2002-03 team have returned for '03-04, and are joined by two freshmen.
Last year's Falcon team finished the season with an overall dual-match record of 10-11. The Falcons' total of 10 wins doubled the victory total of the previous season (5-18 in 2001-02). The Brown and Orange, predicted to finish seventh in the MAC last season, finished fifth in the league with a 5-4 mark a year ago.
"We're definitely ready to play someone else," said Dean. "But, I don't feel like the kids are sick of playing each other, because we've had so many practices rained out this fall.
"We are more of a veteran team this year, though, and I think the kids know what to expect now. The seniors and juniors are showing good leadership, and helping out with the rest of the team."
 Senior Gaby Coello  |
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"Lisa had an ankle sprain that bothered her for much of last year, and really wasn't at 100 percent until the end of the year," said Dean. "This year, she is starting out healthy. And, it is exciting, because all three of the seniors are very focused and fired up to play."
The four-member junior class includes Cameron Benjamin, Laura Kokinda, Lindsey Mix and Susie Schoenberger, and Dean has a pair of sophomores in Andrea Meister and Heidi Romer. The Falcons have two freshmen, Ashley Jakupcin and Erica Wolfe, on the 2003-04 roster.
 Senior Jessica Johnson |
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In the event of inclement weather, the tourney would be moved to Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Maumee. In that event, matches would be scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. Sunday.
Following the BGSU Invitational, the Falcons will compete in the Wolverine Fall Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Oct. 3-5. Click here for the complete 2003-04 BGSU women's tennis schedule.
EVENT INFORMATION
DATES AND LOCATION BGSU Invitational Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 27-28 Keefe Courts (Matches begin at 9:00 a.m. each day)PARTICIPATING TEAMS Bowling Green Ferris State Indiana State Wright State Xavier
DIRECTIONS TO KEEFE COURTS (From I-75) Exit at exit 181 (BGSU exit) and head west (toward Perry Stadium). Turn right at the second light, which is Mercer Road. Take Mercer to Stadium Drive, which is just past the BGSU Ice Arena. Turn right on Stadium Drive. Keefe Courts are located just behind the Ice Arena.
ADMISSION Free (Note: Cochrane Field, home of the BGSU soccer teams, is adjacent to Keefe Courts. The Falcon soccer teams host a doubleheader on Sunday, and there is an admission charge for soccer matches at Cochrane. All fans attempting to enter the soccer complex on Sunday will be charged admission.)
IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER In the event of inclement weather, the tournament will be moved to Shadow Valley in Toledo (419/865-1141). Play would begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
DIRECTIONS TO SHADOW VALLEY (From Bowling Green) Take I-75 north to I-475 (follow signs toward Ann Arbor). Take I-475 to the Airport Highway exit, and turn right on Airport Highway. Turn right at the first light (Holland-Sylvania Road). The entrance to Shadow Valley will be just past St. John's Jesuit High School, on your left.
