Sept. 10, 2010

PHILADELPHIA -

The men's and women's tennis teams will open their fall seasons on La Salle's newly resurfaced tennis courts this weekend. Both squads face West Chester Saturday at 10:00 am and the women's team will also play Moravian at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

"The new tennis courts look good," women's coach Tony Green said. "It's nice to have a new surface. The ball moves a little bit differently on the new surface with more traction. It's just prettier. It's a nice place to play and a nice environment."

The women's team returns its top singles player from last season, Kiara Smith, and will fill the remainder of the lineup with a mix of upperclassmen and newcomers.

The women's team will play its entire fall slate at home on the newly resurfaced tennis courts. Matches against Wagner, Philadelphia University, Delaware State, University of the Sciences, Gwynedd-Mercy and Towson comprise the remainder of the fall schedule.

With large freshmen and sophomore classes, the men's team will look to its youth to boost the squad.

"We're going to have one upperclassman in the lineup, George Gennaoui," men's tennis coach Ed Colfer said. "Three freshmen and two sophomores will be playing. It's going to be really interesting to see how they handle the pressure of playing college tennis."

During the 2009-10 season, the men's team finished 17-10, which included wins in the final five games of the fall season.

La Salle will meet Wagner, University of the Sciences and Saint Francis (PA) at home in the fall. The Explorers will also travel to face St. Thomas Aquinas, Philadelphia University, Mount St. Mary's, Fordham, Millersville and Kutztown.