W. Tennis | Young Quakers look to come out of shells

While competing in juniors, players learn how to work for themselves. Matches at a collegiate Division I level take on a deeper meaning.

"Your individual win is just as important as your teammate winning," senior co-captain Lauren Sadaka said. "It's a transition."

The inexperienced Penn women's tennis team (0-3) needs to come together today at Levy Tennis Pavilion against George Washington University (2-2) and again Sunday versus Maryland (1-5).

Sadaka has been a bright spot for the Quakers at the No. 2 singles spot, winning her last two matches. She is not fazed by Penn's three straight losses and thinks that with hard work the team can turn things around.

"If you want something bad enough, you'll get it," Sadaka said.

Interim coach Sara Schiffman is looking for some improvement from her players, who have had two weeks of practice since their last match. The Quakers have never played the Colonials, but they beat the Terrapins last year in a 4-3 nail-biter.

"These two matches are ones where we're hoping to come out on top," Schiffman said.

Sophomore Alexa Ely won the deciding match against Maryland last year, which should provide some motivation for the team.

"We'll have that match in the back of our heads," Schiffman said.

Penn's No. 1, junior co-captain Ekaterina Kominskaya, will be looking to redeem herself after losing to Maryland's No. 1 last year. She is off to a slow start this season but has played well in her last two matches.

The Quakers need a strong performance from Kosminskaya and Ely in doubles to have a good chance at winning this weekend.

Even though the Colonials and Penn have never squared off, Schiffman will see a familiar face when the two teams meet at Levy. George Washington coach Dawn Buth was an assistant with Schiffman at Penn during the 2003-2004 season.

Penn's players don't know much about George Washington's squad and Sadaka prefers to keep it that way.

"I don't like to put a face on the players," she said. "We need to get a win."

Penn looks to be fairly evenly matched with both squads. Earlier this season Penn and George Washington both lost to Old Dominion, 7-0, while Maryland lost, 5-2. Penn and Maryland also had similar results against Richmond, though the Terrapins won one more match.

Schiffman believes that results will come with time for her young team, and the Quakers are due to break out of their slump.

"The intensity is pretty good and our morale is up," she said.

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