The Wayne State University women's tennis team is coming off one of its strongest seasons in program history after finishing 22-3 overall and 10-1 in the GLIAC in 2011-12. The Warriors will need to overcome the losses of Kristina Goranskaya, the GLIAC Player of the Year, and Daniela Garcia-Diaz, but they plan to do so by using their depth to their advantage this season.

"Every position is just as important as the next, it's not just about your top three players," said head coach Sheila Snyder, who is going into her 23rd year at the helm of the women's tennis program at WSU. "It doesn't matter if you win at first singles or at sixth singles-- if you don't have someone who can come up with wins deep in the lineup then you will not win in this league."

The addition of three talented freshmen is a reason to expect another successful season. Rebeca Aguirre and Julia Kamenko look to make major contributions immediately for the Warriors and could contend to be among the top six singles players for the green and gold this season. Sophomores Yahsha Moore (18-2 at third singles last season) and Anne Li Briand (17-4 at fourth singles last season) round out the players in the mix for time at top singles positions this season.

"Yahsha is a great player who has worked really hard this summer to improve her game," Snyder said. "Yahsha was one of the toughest number threes in the conference last season and adds depth to our competitive lineup."

The team opens its season against two tough conference foes in Ferris State and Northwood, last season's champion and winner of seven of the last eight GLIAC championships. While the Warriors will have to play each GLIAC team at some point during the season, Snyder believes it may be beneficial to see the toughest competition earlier rather than later in order to set the bar high for the season and for her young student-athletes.

"The one good thing is when you play somebody strong in the first couple of matches, it shows your new people this is what college tennis is and this is what your level needs to be," Snyder said. "I think it helps prepare them for the rest of the season by setting the tone early. There are not too many weak teams in our conference and most matches are very competitive."

Even with the fact that the Warriors lost their two strongest singles players from last year, the conference is still up for grabs according to Snyder, who believes that the team will benefit from an increased number of national qualifiers. Last season, the Warriors were not selected as one of the five teams for the NCAA Regionals even with only three losses on their resume. However, eight squads, will qualify this season in women's tennis according to Snyder, which makes for more opportunities and more excitement this season.

"There are going to be a lot of people competing for the conference championship because I don't think there is one cut and dry team who stands out from the rest," Snyder said. "Our goal is always to win the conference championship and qualify for the postseason. We will have to be focused from the start this year because Northwood always builds a tough team. We had one of the best teams we've ever had last season and to not make it was just devastating for the kids because they worked so hard and they deserved it."

Other players that will make an impact this season are seniors Tanya Joseph and Jessica Kruczek. Joseph, who is the captain of the squad, and Kruczek plan to compete for positions in the lineup while also being role models to the rest of their teammates.

"You need the people who have been here to bring out the best in the young kids, teach them the ropes and help them become acclimated to a new environment," Snyder said. "It's really important to have great leaders because the team follows great leaders. That's why I really like these two, even though Tanya is the captain, Jessie is a great leader as well."

The two other student athletes that round out the team's eight-player roster include freshman Alex Poissant, who enjoyed a successful career in Quebec, and freshman Manu Materak, a native of Germany.

The team will host seven conference matches this season at the WSU tennis courts and an eighth opponent in Valparaiso in the last regular-season match of the full schedule. GLIAC teams coming to Midtown include Ferris State, Northwood, Findlay, Grand Valley, Lake Superior, Saginaw Valley and Michigan Tech. The Warriors will be on the road for other seven remaining conference matches and the ITA tournaments. WSU will travel to Hillsdale, Tiffin, Ohio Dominican, Ashland, Malone, Walsh and Lake Erie.

Play will begin on Sept. 7 when Ferris State comes to Detroit. First serve is slated for 1:00 PM at the WSU Tennis Courts.