The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team enters its fall 2024 season hoping to take a step forward.

Last fall, the Lions went 6-6 overall, including a 3-2 record within the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The team earned the No. 3 seed in the conference playoff tournament and ultimately fell to the top seed and eventual champion, Penn State Behrend, in the semifinal round.

The 2024-25 edition of the Lions features two returning players from last season, as well as seven newcomers to the program.

Back from last year are junior Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) and sophomore Caitlin Blessel (Saint Marys, PA/Saint Marys). Both players compiled 6-5 overall records last season in singles play, with Stricek playing in the No. 3 spot and Blessel competing at No. 2. In doubles, Stricek posted three wins in the No. 2 flight, and Blessel had seven wins in No. 1 matches.

"Rachel and Caitlin return this season with three years of varsity experience between them," said Penn State Altoona women's tennis head coach Mark Sapita, who is entering his second season with the program. "Both players finished last season with winning individual records and will be looking to build on the progress that they have made in their games."

After the pair of returners, the Lions welcome seven first-year players to their roster: sophomores Casey Burinskas (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy) and Lexi Colaianni (Pittsburgh, PA/Kiski Area) and freshmen Mara Del Valle (Colombia/Walt Whitman), Sienna Fell (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan), Daniel Fulton (Milford, DE/Milford), Abigail Morgan (Orrville, OH/Orrville), and Chelsea Napper (Highlands Ranch, CO/Highlands Ranch).

"With only two returning players, our lineup will have a significantly new look. Sienna, Abigail, and Daniel all come into our program after playing major roles in their respective high school programs. The experience that they gained throughout their high school careers will be critical as they transition to the collegiate level," Sapita explained. "Additionally, Lexi is back to tennis after a year away from the game. She brings athleticism and competitiveness to the team that will greatly aid our depth. Casey, Chelsea, and Mara are three other newcomers to the team who will certainly be called upon throughout the season."

Sapita's goal is for his team to improve throughout the course of the schedule so that it is playing its best tennis by the start of the postseason.

"Our team's focus will be on the process of getting better every day so that we are playing our best tennis on the last day of the season," he said. "We have developed a schedule that is certain to challenge our players and give them the competitive opportunities that they need to become the best players that they can be."

Penn State Altoona women's tennis starts its 2024-25 schedule with back-to-back home matches on Saturday, August 31 at 1 p.m. against AMCC opponent Carlow University and Sunday, September 1 at 2 p.m. against non-conference foe Waynesburg University.

During the fall schedule – the main portion of the team's season – the Lions will compete in 16 matches, not including the AMCC Tournament. The program will also play several regular season matches during the spring semester.