As the Penn women's tennis team moves closer to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association regionals in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct. 24, the Quakers are looking forward to making a statement this weekend on the world's largest tennis stage.
This weekend's United States Tennis Association Tennis Center Invitational, held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., represents a great chance for players to move into contention for the all-important ITA regionals.
"It's a good opportunity for people to get some wins and better their chances of getting into the ITA," senior co-captain Nicole Ptak said.
Penn coach Michael Dowd sees this weekend's tournament as a chance to measure the Quakers against their top rivals.
"This is a big tournament. All the Ivies except Yale will be there," Dowd said. "We're going to see where we are in the Ivy League."
Dowd looks forward to seeing how well his Quakers will handle the stress and intensity of a four-day tournament.
"We need better upper [body] fitness," Dowd said. "We seem to be fatigued and not ready to play two matches a day yet."
Sophomore Caroline Stanislawski, who finished undefeated at last weekend's Columbia Invitational, believes the Quakers' intense training regimen will be evident in their play this weekend.
"We've all been working really hard," Stanislawski said. "It will probably show this weekend."
New assistant coach Dawn Buth has played a large part in the team's emphasis on physical conditioning. In her first year at Penn, Buth has grown into a role as an accessible coach with a lot to offer the program.
"She's done an amazing job," Stanislawski said. "She's always there and very experienced."
Buth's experience may play a role in whatever success the Quakers have this weekend.
Once ranked 96th in the world, Buth has played in the main draw of all four women's Grand Slam tournaments, including the U.S. Open, which is held every year at the USTA National Tennis Center in New York -- the site of this weekend's USTA Tennis Center Invitational.
"She's helped us out a lot, and we're all looking forward to having her help our team grow," Stanislawski said.
Dowd is confident that his team's skill, underscored by hard work and an experienced perspective from Buth, will prevail this weekend.
"I expect to finish very high," he said. "I'm expecting us to be one of the top teams there."
