On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Waynesburg University women’s tennis team lost its opening contest 7-0 in a non-conference matchup against the Penn State Altoona Lions. The loss will not affect the Yellow Jackets’ Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) record. It is the second straight season that the Yellow Jackets have started with a 7-0 loss to the Lions.

Sophomore Taylor Stephens had the closest singles match of the day after she took a 6-3, 6-2 loss. 

“I’m going to prioritize footwork and slow down my breathing,” Stephens said. “I gave my all, but because my footwork was off, I was playing more on the defensive side instead of the offensive side.”

The Lions are coming off a program record, 17-win season. Waynesburg looks to use the hard competition to improve themselves.

“Our communication wasn’t great and confidence was low at times. We have been putting an emphasis on those things in practice,” head coach Randy Pettit said. “I think that playing someone better than you is always beneficial because it makes you play up.”

It is the fourth season in a row that Waynesburg has opened its season against Penn State Altoona, who were the No. 2 seed in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) last season.

“I think that playing someone better than you is always beneficial because it makes you play up,” Stephens said. 

The Yellow Jackets look to improve this season and use both their offseason preparation and spring trip to Hilton Head to showcase their growth.

“The girls have an attainable goal of making the post season,” Pettit said. “Last year, they achieved their first conference win in a number of years, and they are looking to improve upon that.”

The Yellow Jackets next match is Tuesday, Sept. 8 another non-conference match against Pitt Greensburg at the Bechtle Family Tennis Facility at 6 p.m.