A strong start to the season for the Georgetown women’s tennis team was dampened by storms that forced the cancellation of the Bucknell Invitational last Sunday. Little more than the first round of singles matches was completed Saturday, the first day of competition, when rain delayed the second round and ultimately brought the tournament to a premature end.

The Hoyas fared well in limited action, however, and set a positive tone for the 2002 season. Overall, Georgetown went 7-2 in the invitational, losing only one game in the first round. The Hoyas were among the strongest teams in a field that included host Bucknell, as well as Binghamton, Bloomsburg, Loyola, Marist, Pittsburgh and Villanova.

Georgetown’s success began at the Flight A level, where sophomore Liora Gelblum and sophomore Trina Snow won their first-round matches. Gelblum won convincingly 6-1, 6-0, while Snow survived a shaky second set to prevail 6-4, 0-6, (10-4). Gelblum’s second round match was one of the few that finished prior to the rain delay. Unfortunately, Gelblum lost to Pitt’s Jill Williams 5-1, 7-5, to account for one of only two Hoya losses on the day.

In Flight B play, juniors Lara Madonia and Jordan Botjer made quick work of their opponents. Madonia won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, as did Botjer with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph. Sophomore Monisha Ghia and junior Steffani Sutton easily beat their Flight C opponents in the first round, 6-0, 6-3 and 6-3, 6-0, respectively.

The Hoyas’ only first round blemish was senior Meredith Bumpass’s loss in her Flight D first round match. Bumpass lost a close match, 3-6, 6-3, (10-4). Junior Joy Watcharaumnuay, however, kept Georgetown alive in the Flight D bracket by winning 6-3, 6-0.

Unfortunately, the inclement weather that forced the cancellation of the Bucknell Invitational washed out Georgetown’s hope of bringing home the tournament championship. Yet the women’s tennis team showed a lot of potential in its limited number of matches.

The foundation for this year’s team was set in 2001, when a youthful squad went 8-10 overall, but with a 4-2 record in Big East match play. Last year’s squad featured few veterans, but the Hoyas’ youth served them well. Newcomers Gelblum and Lydia Bartell had outstanding debuts for Georgetown in 2001. Bartell tied with Botjer for the team lead with 16 singles victories, including a perfect 6-0 record in the Big East, while Gelblum stepped into the No. 1 singles slot and completed the season a solid 7-9 in dual matches.

This fall Georgetown again features a young lineup, but one that experienced many positives the previous year. The Hoyas look to take another step forward in the hopes of reaching the Big East tournament.

The next challenge for the women’s tennis team is the D.C. etro Intercollegiate Championships, which begins Thursday, Sept. 26 at the McDonough Tennis Courts.