The Salisbury girls tennis team opened its fall season with a convincing 4-1 win over nonleague foe Jim Thorpe last week.

The line up for that match was a near mirror image of the team that took the court in 2018.

Head coach Rob Benson returns everyone except for one doubles player from last year on a team that went 9-8 last fall and qualified for the District 11 team tournament. The Lady Falcons’ chemistry and camaraderie seems to be evident early on.

“I have all my singles players back, and all I’m missing from last year is Katie Denver from No. 1 doubles,” Benson said. “Everybody else is back. We just have to find a second doubles team. I’m hoping [Emily] Silberman can hit singles rather than homeruns.”

Silberman, a stand out softball player for Salisbury, will be joined by Anna Bitar and Maise Oliver as players that Benson is hoping provide depth on Salisbury’s doubles teams. Oliver lived in Michigan last year and figures to be a new addition that will help that area.

Oliver, a sophomore, and senior Leila Clutter came up short against the Olympians No. 2 doubles team of Gabby Nunez and Sophia Samoleski (6-0, 6-2). The rest of the Lady Falcons, however, had little trouble in their matches.

Sophomore Krista Bonge and senior Bethany Hnatow are back from last season and got off to a fast start. The two defeated Jim Thorpe’s Evelyn Flores and Chloe Getz in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).

But Benson believes Salisbury’s strength will be on the singles circuit. Juniors Bryn Kubinsky and Paige Gibbons, along with sophomore Mackenzie Hankee, are all back after successful seasons in 2018. Gibbons advanced to the semifinals of the No. 2 singles Colonial League tournament.

Kubinsky, the No. 1 singles player, dropped her first set against Jim Thorpe’s Christy McLean but quickly got back on track for a win in three sets (4-6, 6-2, 6-2). Gibbons (6-2, 6-1) and Mackenzie (7-5, 6-2) both won in straight sets.

“We lost at second doubles, but everybody else won,” Benson said. “Bryn, my No. 1, went three sets but pulled it out. It wasn’t bad, but we learned a lot.”

The Lady Falcons came up short against Moravian Academy in last year’s team duals, but Benson expects Salisbury to return to the postseason once again.

“We should have some fun and be competitive,” Benson said.

Salisbury opened its Colonial League schedule against Notre Dame (Green Pond) on Tuesday. Results were not available at time of press.

The Lady Falcons will next travel to Moravian Academy on Thursday for a match against the Lions. Moravian went a perfect 14-0 in league play last season and won three of the five brackets in the Colonial League’s tournament.