Introduction
The Point Loma women's tennis team closed out their 2015 schedule strong with two comeback victories at the PacWest Championships, which helped PLNU capture the consolation title. The Sea Lions hope to build on that momentum, as they proved to themselves last year that they have the moxie and talent to compete with almost anyone in the West Region. 
 
Offseason training
The team has been on the court the past three week, rapidly preparing for the 2016 season. PLNU will open the year at home against San Diego Christian on Saturday, Jan. 30.
 
"We only have three weeks of practice time with the semester starting before our first match," said Wheeler. "So these three weeks have kind of been our boot camp of getting everybody in great shape. We have a few girls that have some lingering injuries from the fall that we're trying to slowly work back into the mix, but hopefully both of them will be back 100 percent by our first match. I like the progress that we've been making, and I think by our first match we'll be ready to go."
 
Returners
Point Loma brought back all but one starter from the team that made the run in the consolation bracket at the PacWest Championships. PLNU will return seniors Hilary Ramage, Kirsty Mountain and Jen Weissmann, juniors Regina von Koch and Cassidy Siegfried, along with sophomores Nikki Newell, Justine Phillips and Hannah Chiu.
 
"For the most part we're returning almost the same team," said Wheeler. "They've done a great job in the fall and this spring. We added two freshmen and our returning players have done a great job showing them how Point Loma tennis works. They've showed them what we're about and what we try to do on the court; all those things. I've been really happy with the returners.
 
"The way we ended last year gets me excited for this year because at least right now we're healthier than we were at the end of last year," Wheeler continued. "Right now we have everyone playing at a higher level than even at the end of last year. I'm looking forward to seeing this team if we can stay healthy."
 
Newcomers
The Sea Lions added just two new student-athletes in the offseason, both freshmen. Coach Wheeler brought Nicole Camaratta out of Carlsbad, Calif., and Michelle Torres from Arlington, Texas.
 
"I've been really happy with the freshman," Wheeler exclaimed. They're working with the returners really well."
 
Goals
Coach Wheeler is hoping that experience of the student-athletes and the added depth will help PLNU build on last season. He sees the potential for this team to take another step forward as a program and with that in mind he has set out some goals.
 
"One big goal that we've had this year on the women's side is improving our doubles," Wheeler explained. "In tennis it's a nine point match, six singles matches and three doubles matches. But there were some matches last year where if we just get one more doubles point we win that match. Our singles were good last year but if we just get a couple more doubles wins it will translate to more overall victories. We've been working hard on that and I've liked what I've seen so far. I think (getting those extra doubles points) will help our chances this year.
 
"Another goal we've had on the women's side is really starting matches quickly," he continued. "Be it in doubles or be it in singles, but starting our sets really quickly to where we want to get a lead early, and then run away with it. Tennis is a very, just like every sport, it's very momentum based, and all of a sudden you're feeling great, and then the other woman makes a couple good shots and then now they have all the momentum. So a big goal for us is starting strong and then maintaining that throughout the entire match. If we do a good job with that in doubles and singles, our girls certainly have the talent; it's just a matter of keeping that high level of intensity."
 
Keys
Coach Wheeler also took the time to outline some keys for his team to get those critical doubles points and keep their energy high throughout the match.

"For doubles specifically it's all about consistency," said Wheeler. "It's all about playing the way we want to play consistently. That's one thing I love about doubles: is that it's very easy to set up patterns, it's very easy to set up, kind of like call a play in basketball, or something like that. It's very easy to hit it here, then hit it here, then hit it here for the point. And that's one thing we've been working on is really doing it and doing it well, and just really kind of owning those patterns. If we do that and we execute we're going to be really successful at least with that doubles goal."
 
Conclusion
The Sea Lions have a great opportunity this season to take a step forward as a program. The women's team showed last year it was capable of competing against some of the best teams in the nation, especially with their run at the PacWest Championships, but Point Loma must be locked into the matches mentally and physically to reach the level of success coach Wheeler knows their collective talents can achieve.