After an off-season during which many of its players didn't exactly take time off, the ASU's women's tennis team will officially begin its season Friday.
The Sun Devils will travel to Berkeley, Calif. for the California Nike Invitational, a three-day tournament of singles and doubles matches comprised of players from 12 schools.
For ASU's players, like most Division I competitors, the tennis season is year-round.
Seniors Jessica Leitch and Wendy Pilecka and junior Laila Abdala, as well as other teammates, competed in tournaments internationally.
But coach Sheila McInerney expects rust to show this weekend with the players having not played on the collegiate level in months.
"We've prepared during practice matches," McInerney said. "But this time of year, we're really just getting back into it."
The singles side for the upcoming tournament will be led by sisters Nadia and Laila Abdala at the top of the lineup, with Leitch and Pilecka not far behind.
Pilecka, however, won't play doubles this weekend, McInerney said in order to rest the senior who's coming off an injury.
But the team's veterans don't seem to be the coach's main concern. Acclimating the freshmen is, McInerney said.
"We need to get a feel for the freshmen," she said. "We've got to get their feet wet."
Micaela Hein, Kelcy McKenna and Lauren Megale represent the newcomers, with one more freshman to join the team at a later date.
Reach the reporter at apentis@asu.edu
