Pluskota, Boren will lead Lady Vols in 2011-12

The 2011-12 version of the Tennessee women's tennis team will be a young, but very talented squad. With just one senior to lead the Lady Vols, Natalie Pluskota, the team will feature five sophomores, one of which, Brynn Boren, played like a seasoned veteran during her rookie season in 2010-11.

Last season was a successful one for the Lady Vols, as they swept the singles and doubles titles at the ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships, finished second in the SEC and earned a 16th consecutive berth in the NCAA Championships.

Boren finished her rookie campaign as a second-team and freshman All-SEC selection, while leading the team in singles wins with 30. She also teamed up with Pluskota in the NCAA Doubles Championships and reached the second round of the event before falling to the No. 6-rated duo of Keri Wong and Josipa Bek of Clemson.

Both players parlayed their success from the season into individual accolades during the summer, as Pluskota won her first career professional tennis title on July 17 with a doubles win at the Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament. Six days later on July 23, Boren won her second consecutive Women's Hospital Classic doubles championship.

Pluskota, who owns a 76-23 doubles record at Tennessee and is a two-time ITA All-American doubles and All-SEC selection, will undoubtedly be relied upon by co-head coaches Mike Patrick and Sonia Hahn-Patrick to carry the load of what will be one of the youngest teams in the nation.