The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's tennis team returns three key players from last year's squad, but head coach Susan Schenfield said it will be up to the rest of the team to step up and fill the gaps.

The Panthers are set to open the season Friday at home against Houghton at 6 p.m.

"This year we are a young and inexperienced team," said Schenfield, who is entering her eighth year as head coach. "We have fewer returning players this season, and our schedule is as tough as ever. It should be exciting to see how our returning players adapt to the level of competition."

Emily Fowkes returns as the lone senior on the roster. She has played a key role on the Panthers' roster throughout her career and is expected to be at the top of the lineup in her final season.

"Throughout her first three years on the team she has developed the ability to hit through the court and win points on the offensive side of the game," Schenfield said. "As a team, we will rely heavily on her leadership and experience throughout the season."

Amy Thomas also returns from last season, and Schenfield is hoping she can build off of a strong ending to last season and play a key role at the top of the Panthers' lineup.

"Amy is a smart, all-court player who is fantastic at making adjustments on the fly," Schenfield said. "She has the ability to force her opponents to make mistakes, and she continues to be a threat for us each time she takes the court."

Alexa Holleran is the third and final returner from last season's team. Schenfield expects her to be at the top of the lineup in singles and doubles this year.

"The great thing about Alexa is she can win on any given day," Schenfield said. "She is working hard on her attacking game, which will make her an even stronger player for us. She has matured as a player since her freshman season and has truly become one of the leaders on this team."

Newcomers Kayla Kerner, Edith Lloyd-Etuwewe, Jessica Patz and Isla Swindles round out the squad this season.

"The newcomers have big shoes to fill," Schenfield said. "It will be difficult to replace the two seniors we lost last season, as each of them brought so much to the program. I'm hoping the new players will fit right into our lineup. We are doing a lot of work on the court to make this team a solid unit."

Despite the youth and inexperience, Schenfield is excited to see how her team develops as the year goes on.

"We have an extremely competitive schedule, so we need to create our own opportunities if we hope to be successful," Schenfield said. "In order to do that, we need to challenge ourselves every single time we take the court. It will be exciting to see how it all comes together."