Pitt’s women’s tennis team will be back in action this weekend, kicking off their regular… Pitt’s women’s tennis team will be back in action this weekend, kicking off their regular season at home against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Head coach George Dieffenbach enters his 31st season at Pitt and his 25th year as the women’s tennis coach.

Last year, Dieffenbach led the Panthers to a 9-11 record overall and 1-6 record in the Big East, their first sub-.500 season in five years. However, they prepared for this season by competing in five tournaments this past fall, earning an impressive four titles during this time.

The Panthers lost Jill Williams, one of only seven players in school history to record 100 wins in her career, and Konita Jude to graduation, but still return a solid group of players along with four talented newcomers.

Seniors Becky Emmers and Emily Hughes will lead the way. ACL and MCL injuries ended Emmers’ season early last year. She has since had surgery and will return to the court this season. Though she did not get to play the entire season, she still had seven singles wins and 11 doubles wins. Emmers is one of three ITA Scholar Athletes from the 2004-2005 squad.

Hughes, who played at the No. 4 position last year, recorded 18 singles wins, leading the team in the category for the second consecutive season. Hughes, the only left-handed player on the team, also produced seven doubles wins.

Junior Annie Davies, team MVP for the second consecutive year, led the Panthers last year with a 15-5 record in doubles and a 15-12 singles mark. Davies was named to the ITA All-Academic Team for the second year in a row.

Leah Friedman, who played primarily at the No. 3 position last season, will begin her second year as a Panther. Last year she had a 15-14 singles record and a 14-8 doubles record.

Another sophomore, Michele Petrasko, returns after recording 11 wins. She had to sit out much of the season because of a hip injury. The rehabilitation process kept her off the court until January, but she is expected back for a successful spring season.

Carlie Smith – another ITA All-Academic Team member – returns for her sophomore campaign. She played at the No. 6 position in singles, going 15-10 in singles, 10-10 in doubles.

The Panthers also boast four freshmen coming off impressive high school careers.

Kristy Borza – younger sister of former Pitt tennis player and new volunteer assistant coach Nikki Borza – is ranked seventh in the under-18 group by the United States Tennis Association Middle State Section. She is a Beaver Area High School graduate who finished her high school career with a record of 120-16. Borza is a three-time section champ, four-time WPIAL qualifier and two-time PIAA finalist

Christie D’achille, from North Allegheny, is highly ranked in the top 15 of the USTA Middle State list and placed second at PIAA State Doubles.

Kimberly Harclerode, who graduated from Manheim Township High, was a three-time league and district champ. She finished with a career record of 93-10 and is a two-time PIAA semi-finalist. This summer, Harclerode competed in two international tournaments in preparation for joining the Panthers team.

Rounding out the quartet is Iroquois Central graduate Jenna Suffoletto. A Scholar-Athlete all four years, Suffoletto was an all-league first team selection and her team’s MVP for three years.

The freshmen get their first crack at conference competition this Saturday against Cincinnati. The Bearcats lost their opening pair of contests this spring to intrastate opponents Ohio State (7-0) and Miami (Ohio) (6-1). The Bearcats return three starters this season but have also lost three starters. In the 2005 season, Cincinnati only won one of its road matches. However, the Bearcats managed to defeat Pitt 5-2 on their home courts.

Editor’s Note: Dieffenbach could not be reached for comment for this preview.