Dec. 20, 2001

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte women's tennis program enters their second season under the guidance of Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods. She is already putting her footprint on the program with the addition of four talented newcomers to join three returning letterwinners on this season's roster.

"I am really excited about my second season at Charlotte," Zawacki-Woods said. "We have added more depth this season with our four newcomers. Our three returning players provide us with leadership and experience. The team has been working really hard in the off-season and in their fall tournament schedule. I feel that our expectations in Conference USA are much higher this season. I feel with hard work and some teamwork we can improve our standing in Conference USA. I don't see why we can't finish in the middle of the pack of Conference USA."

Two seniors, Alice Hansen and Lauren Hastings, and a junior Stacie Luders will be counted on for their leadership and experience this season as the only returning letterwinners.

The seniors Hansen and Hastings have combined for 70 singles wins in their three-year Charlotte career.

Hansen has been Charlotte's number one player for the past three seasons. She was named Team MVP last season. She has won 36 singles matches in her career.

Hastings led the team with 12 singles wins last season. She earned Team MVP honors two seasons ago and she has led the team in wins for the past two seasons.

"Alice and Lauren are our team captains," Zawacki-Woods said. "We will look to them for leadership. Alice has shown improvement in her play and she has potential to beat anyone in Conference USA. I feel that she will show people how good a player she is this season. Lauren is a very hard worker who always gives 100% effort on the court. She is a solid team leader. These two seniors will provide us with leadership that will help us reach our goals this season."

The other returning letterwinner is Luders. She has played number four singles in both of her seasons at Charlotte. Also, a solid doubles players, she was part of Charlotte's number two doubles team last season.

"One of our goals this season is to be injury-free," Zawacki-Woods said. "Stacie has been limited in the fall due to an injury. When she is healthy she has a strong net game. But her main strength is her enthusiasm. She is a great encourager who plays a big part in getting our team up for practices and matches."

Joining the three returning letterwinners will be four talented newcomers. Freshmen Courtney Clifford, Jana Cucciniello, Jennifer Hatch and Laura Swain join the 49ers roster this season.

"We are definitely a very young squad," Zawacki-Woods said. "We are looking for our four newcomers to come in and play right away. They are half our roster so they will have to rely upon their juniors and high school experience to help us out this season."

Clifford earned All-State honors at Portsmouth High School in Ohio. She won three section titles and one district title in her four-year high school tennis career.

Cucciniello was a two-time Texas All-State Selection at Humble High School. She was ranked in the top 175 juniors in the nation last season.

Hatch was named Team MVP last season as a senior at South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, Georgia. She was ranked in the top 50 juniors in the south.

Swain was named Team MVP the past two seasons at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She was ranked number one in Alabama in the U-18 juniors.

The three returning players and the four newcomers will help Zawacki-Woods continue to rebuild the women's tennis program.

"I am really excited about the prospects of our team entering my second season," Zawacki-Woods said. "I feel that we can improve upon last season. I am more prepared for my second season as a college head coach."

The 49ers play a very challenging schedule in Zawacki-Woods' second season that includes regional powers NC State, Auburn, and Clemson and Conference USA foes East Carolina and South Florida.

"Our schedule is stronger this season," Zawacki-Woods said. "We have strengthened our schedule by playing a couple of ACC teams and more Conference USA teams. I am really excited about playing a couple of Conference USA teams during the regular season to see where we stand in the conference before the season-ending Tournament."