JACKSONVILLE – In 2006, injuries forced the Jacksonville State women’s tennis team to pursue a different course of action early and often. The Gamecocks battled with a young lineup, dropping half of their losses by narrow margins.

The result was a 5-12 season, but a wealth of experience that head coach Steve Bailey hopes will generate victories in 2007.

“Last year, we had a bad year, Bailey said. “We had our one and two spots go out with injuries. We had a young team, everyone had to move up and we just got hammered.”

The Gamecocks (5-12, 4-5 OVC in 2006) enter the 2007 campaign with a dangerous combination of youth and experience. The youth from last season’s squad returns with a year of experience and development.

Seniors Erin Higgs and Babette Lombardo will start the season in the team’s top two spots. From there, the fusion of experience and youth will make the final four starting spots a virtual logjam.

With the experience of last year under their belts, Layla Abby, Eloah Lopes and Adriana Borda will compete for starting roles along with a trio of talented freshmen in Kristen Fuller, Kimberly Ferris and Laura Lundy.

“They’ve got a chance to be good, Bailey said. “We’re still not strong at the top, but we’re very deep.”

The depth of this JSU team will have to carry them far. Other than Higgs’ play in the top two spots last season, the Gamecocks have a combined nine matches in the one and two spots. Of those nine matches, Lombardo has played five of them.

Lopes looks to start the season in the middle, either the three or four. Last season, Lopes finished 10-10, 6-3 as the third seed.

Jacksonville State begins the 2007 season Thursday in Monntgomery, Ala., against Alabama State and will take on Auburn-Montgomery and Birmingham Southern before beginning OVC play February 13 against in-state rival Samford.