Wide open is how Penn State women's tennis coach Buffy Baker would describe the fall season, which kicks off on Sept. 20 at the Ohio State Invitational in Columbus.

The team will look to compensate for the loss of two seniors, Janelle Perez, who was injured all last year, and Rebecca Ho, who played No. 1 for the team.

Baker said that nobody has the No. 1 position locked down, which will make the fall season interesting, as she monitors the players' progress before team play begins in the spring.

"It's completely wide open," Baker said. "Anyone ready to step up has a shot."

Baker is excited at not having a clear No. 1 singles player on the team this year, as she expects the competition to help players step up their levels of play.

"It's as wide open as ever. The competition can only push them," said Baker, who is beginning her third year as head coach.

Perhaps most poised to take over the No. 1 position are Leigh Ann Merryman, the team's only junior, and Maaria Husain and Megan Marton, two players who will be entering their sophomore campaigns. Marton and Husain both spent time at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots during the spring season. Husain and Marton, along with Jessica McKeown and Sarah Spence, make up a group of four sophomores who all joined the team together last year as freshmen. Baker expects to see added maturity and growth from the unique foursome.

"They represent 50 percent of the team," Baker said. "We are fortunate to have a group of talented young women, who carry great enthusiasm."

Baker added that the four sophomores helped to lead the team last year, even though they were in just their first year of collegiate play.

"They brought leadership as freshmen, which is something you don't expect as a coach," Baker said.

With the loss of two seniors also comes the issue of who will take over as leaders for a young team, as Lindsay Downing, the only incoming freshman, helps round out a roster where five of the eight spots are occupied by freshmen and sophomores.

"I always look to seniors for leadership. They are capable leaders," Baker said, adding that she expects this year's seniors, April Uy and Judy Wang, to be comfortable leading the young team.

The fall season for tennis consists of strictly tournament play before team play resumes in the spring.

"Fall is for preparation in many ways," Baker said. "It lays the foundation physically for the spring."

Baker expects the team to meet stiff competition right away, as this is the first year that it will travel to Columbus for the Ohio State Tournament.

"It will give us a chance to see what we've done over the summer," Baker said.

The match will give the Nittany Lions' tennis team an opportunity to see how they match up against Big Ten competition, as they will compete against conference foe Ohio State.

The team will also travel to weekend tournaments in Maryland, Philadelphia and Virginia. The farthest the team will travel during the fall is Nashville, Tenn., to compete in the Vanderbilt Invitational.

In addition, the team will host the PSU Fall Tournament on the weekend of Oct. 4, the only home action the team will see until the spring.

As far as doubles play goes, Baker says she will try out different combinations, monitoring what works before setting a definite lineup in the spring.