2012 Tennis Preview

The 2012 Geneseo women's tennis team enters the season as the defending SUNYAC champions for 10th year head coach Jim Chen (Harvard, Ph.D. '69). The Blue Knights posted an 11-1 record on their way to a win over New Paltz in the SUNYAC title match during the fall season. Geneseo went 3-3 in dual matches in the spring before defeating Wilkes in the first round of the NCAAs and falling to Amherst in the second round.

Chen's challenge will be replacing the graduated first doubles SUNYAC champion tandem of Monica Vieth, the two-time SUNYAC first singles champion, and Julia Passik, who was 22-5 on the season.

Sophomore Dexuan Yuan (Flushing/Benjamin Cardozo) leads the returners after taking the SUNYAC second singles title in 2011. Yuan, who played in only singles matches a year ago, teams with sister Minxuan Yuan (Flushing/Benjamin Cardozo) at third doubles this season.

Senior Sarah Shields (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) and sophomore Amanda Rosati (Albany/Academy of Holy Names) will form a potent second doubles team for the Blue Knights. Rosati, who was 15-4 last season, won the SUNYAC fourth singles title in 2011, while Shields, who was 14-1 in singles play, captured the fifth singles crown at the SUNYAC and is a three-time All-SUNYAC performer.

A SUNYAC finalist at fourth singles, senior Katie Talbot (Endwell, Maine-Endwell) moves up to third singles and will team with first year Mare Santos (Jamaica/St. Francis Prep) at first doubles. Santos inherits Vieth's open role at first singles.

Sophomore Zakiyyah Abdus-Salaam (Mt. Vernon/The Ursuline School) completes the starting group for the Blue Knights at the sixth singles spot after playing third doubles during the spring season in 2011-12, while first year Jess Ringler (North Tonawanda) may get playing time at third doubles.

Junior Rachel Drake (Lancaster/Niagara Tennis Academy of ONT.), sophomore Beryl Guterman (Amherst) and first year Harpreet Aujla (Watertown/Immaculate Heart) complete the Blue Knights roster.

The team begins their season on Friday, August 31 at Nazareth College, with the home opener coming on Thursday, September 6 versus Oswego at 4 p.m.