By Michael Purtell
The conference and the rulebook both changed — but the faces of Plattsburgh State tennis have not.
The Cardinals’ fall season features new scoring rules for doubles matches and a smaller conference after Geneseo and Brockport left the SUNYAC. After being knocked out of the SUNYAC tournament late by Geneseo, the team is looking to bounce back and contend for a championship for the first time under head coach Kelci Henn.
“I’m hoping people underestimate us. That way we can come in and really shock the conference,” Henn said.
Last season the Cardinals ended the season with a record of 8-6 (2-5.)
Eight athletes make up the official roster, all of whom were members of last year’s team. No first-year athletes will make an appearance in the fall season, but one first-year will join in the spring due to a scheduling conflict with a study abroad program.
The roster size is nearly half that of last season, with 14 Cardinals representing the team last season.
The familiar names on the roster do not mean the Cardinals will be the same team. Samantha Svantner, Nicole Svantner, Jacqueline Svantner and Sarah Benowitz all graduated — all of whom played vital roles in starting spots for the 2023 Cardinals. The four made up 15 of the team’s 42 singles wins.
“Some players that weren’t in the starting lineup last year have made huge improvements, and are going to be finding their ways into the starting lineup this year,” Henn said. “It’ll be definitely a different look this season, but everyone’s going to be where they’re meant to be, and their strengths are going to show in those positions.”
Half of the team is entering their senior season. Hallie Hurwitz will serve as the team’s senior captain, with Megan Phelps, Sophia Gottschall and Andrea Bingham also in their fourth year.
The large senior presence, the small roster size and the continuity of having no new faces on the team this season have helped the team find a strong footing in the preseason.
“It’s different from any other year I’ve been on the team, because everyone on my team right now is returning. We’re definitely closer than we’ve ever been,” Hurwitz said. “We’re very in-sync.”
Juniors Abigail Jarrett and Kristy Cantwell will look to make their SUNYAC debut this season, with Jarrett being named the team’s junior captain. Both have won in their limited out of conference appearances, combining for a 3-0 record.
Sophomore Jenna Medina did not return to the roster, and classmate Chuck Stone returned to the team in a new role as the team’s equipment and team manager.
Sophomores Jacklin Mitchell and Ava Carey shined as a doubles pairing for the Cardinals last season, going 4-3 in conference doubles matches last season, including a win over Geneseo.
Mitchell won the 2023 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year after an outstanding season. She finished the season with a singles record of 10-1, 5-1 in conference play, including a full eight matches before losing.
The sophomores will look to build on their first-year campaigns after their first offseason of collegiate training, which includes as much focus off the court as it does on.
“We’ve done a lot of lifts to get our upper arms ready and our legs ready to move back and forth,” Mitchell said. “I was a little weakling in highschool, I’m not gonna lie, so gaining that stability is way better for my game.”
The season begins Monday, Sept. 2 with a home match against SUNYAC rival Oneonta, who finished as the fourth seed last year. The Cardinals struggled against the Red Dragons, with Mitchell being the only scorer for Plattsburgh last season.
“Oneonta tends to be very strong in singles, so I’m hoping we can take doubles and hopefully take some points in singles as well,” Henn said.
This season doubles will be scored as a whole and will provide only one point in total. Three doubles matches will be played, and the winner of the most doubles matches will be awarded one point. In past seasons each doubles match was worth a point.
The change means individual doubles matches will be less valuable, but allows for teams to deny opponents any points even if a match is won.
The season-opener will be the only home conference meet. The next SUNYAC match is Sept. 14 against the New Paltz Hawks. Conference play wont continue until the team visits the Binghamton Tennis Center Oct. 3. The long weekend will see the Cards play three SUNYAC teams in three days: Oswego, Cortland and then Fredonia.
Throughout the season the Cardinals will push a strong team culture, despite being the smallest roster on campus, Hurwitz said. The effort of the team will help them “rise above the barriers” of being a smaller group.
“We’re tiny, but we’re mighty,” Henn said. “We’re not tired, We’re ready to go and we want to prove to everyone that we’re a solid team.”
