It's a common theme in sports that the level of optimism for a team runs as high as the level of expectation.

For the 2006 Penn State women's tennis team, there is definitely no exception.

The Nittany Lions, who return their entire roster from last year, will head into the season with a strong squad, led by senior Sasha Abraham, who returns after having collected 21 wins last year.

Last season the Lions were 9-13, 3-9 in the Big Ten.

While their record was not the best that the Lions have seen, it doesn't have them looking back, but looking optimistically torward the future.

"Based on what's returning and the two new girls we have, expectations are high," Penn State head coach Buffy Baker said. "We return a strong senior class, including our one-two-three punch."

Along with the '05-'06 team, the Lions add two new players to the roster in freshmen Sarah Lotto and Lauren McCarthy. Each are expected to add both talent and depth to the Lions.

Baker stressed the importance that the freshmen blend in with the rest of the team. Continuity is a key element to any team.

At the same time, that doesn't mean she was too worried about the ability of her team to welcome them with open arms, and a sense of continued team unity amongst team members.

"That's in place," Baker said. "We've got good role models so as long as the freshmen take to that, I think the team will gel."

For the Lions, however, their sport often forces them to compete without the support of their teammates on the court, yet they can always find the rest of the team celebrating with them after a win, and consoling them after a tough loss.

"The nature of our sport is individual," Baker said.

"They're battling, you know, they can't be substituted. If one person is out it weakens the team, and they know that, and as long as they keep that it helps them to compete with each other."

As the team prepares for another year at Happy Valley, Baker and the squad look to reemerge as one of the competitive teams in the Big Ten. This fall will prove critical in preparing for the spring season, and with the Lions heading to the Cissie Leary Invitational on Sept. 22, and the ultimate road to present and future success begins now.