By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Experience and depth will be the strong points of the Bridgewater State University women's tennis team this season.
The Bears bring back their Nos. 1 and 2 singles players while two other returning starters are in the lineup, joined by a pair of freshmen.
BSU, picked to finish third in the Little East Conference preseason coaches poll, will get the season going in West Hartford, Conn., at noon on Saturday against the University of Saint Joseph.
The Bears finished 9-5 last fall, going 6-2 in the Little East before losing to Western Connecticut State, 5-4, in the quarterfinal round of the tournament.
"The group we have is really deep," said David Purpura, now in his ninth year. "We had six freshman come out for the team and I was unsure how many would be on the final roster. We kept all of them.
"We really feel good about our future. This was the year to add to our depth. I feel great about the (preseason) and the freshman class being the foundation for the next few years."
No. 1 singles player Madeline Von Ruden (Ashley Falls, Mass.) is back for a final season after earning All-Little East honors three straight years in both singles and doubles.
Von Ruden became the only BSU rookie of the year in the Little East in 2021 when she was on the all-conference first team in singles and second team in doubles. The past two seasons, Von Ruden has been on the All-Little East second team in singles and doubles.
"She's a fantastic all-around athlete," said Purpura of the captain. "She's got size, strength and is very determined. She's evolved into a more complete tennis player the last few years.
"She's had some injuries, but we really know that no matter how Maddie's feeling, she's going to give 110 percent and be excited for a battle every single match. We feel like we have a chance to win at No. 1 every match. She has the right makeup to be a huge No. 1."
Graduate student Mackenzie Silveira (Middletown, R.I.) joined Von Ruden on the all-conference second team in doubles and returns at No. 2 singles.
"She had a good year last year," said Purpura. "She was a player who came to college and played basketball and leaves 100 percent a tennis player. She's gotten better every year. We're really fortunate to have both her on-court ability and her leadership for one more year."
Senior Meghan Lotti (Stoneham, Mass.) moves from No. 5 to No. 3 singles to start this season. She was also on the second doubles team in 2023.
"She's a really steady player," said Purpura. "She's really athletic and every year has improved. She's going to be a really solid player. She had a good camp week. We're expecting big things from her to be one more veteran in the lineup."
A pair of freshman, Sarah Pothier (Rochester, Mass.) and Morgan Smith (Taunton, Mass.), will likely crack the starting line up in singles play and could potentially slot in at Nos. 4 and 6, respectively.
"Sarah came in and right away got great results," said Purpura. "What's impressive is her determination. Morgan came in ready to go and had a great camp week. The two freshmen have been outstanding in (the preseason)."
Sophomore Samantha Bettencourt (Tiverton, R.I.) played No. 6 singles as a freshman and is expected to move up the ladder to No. 5 to begin this season.
"She really had a good first year and was a candidate for rookie of the year," said Purpura. "In order to achieve our team goals, we're going to need her to be strong again."
Providing depth on the roster are freshman Aislyn Kelliher (Plymouth, Mass.), junior Yasmine Queen (Waltham, Mass.), freshman Fiona Clancy (Middleboro, Mass.), freshman Ava Alves (Taunton, Mass.), junior Hannah Higgins (Rockland, Mass.) and freshman Grace Binegar (Norton, Mass.).
"We feel really deep one-through-eight and even our nine and 10 players can push for a lineup spot," said Purpura. "Our 11 and 12 players are more than capable college tennis players. We're going to have a really good player not in the lineup.
"Things are trending in the right direction. It's about how far can the veterans lead us. If everybody improves every day like we ask them to, we'll be in the mix."
BSU's home opener is Tuesday afternoon against Regis College. The Little East opener is Sept. 7 at Rhode Island College, picked to finish second in the conference.