Note: This article has been updated on March 31 to reflect the schedule change for the match against New Milford.

Newtown High School's girls' tennis team lineup, with several talented returnees back, is bolstered by the addition of six freshmen and a new-to-the-team junior.

"They're all very strong," said Newtown Coach Maureen Maher, who adds that her returning players strengthened their games in the offseason. "We have a tremendous amount of talent."

Given the level of the players, Maher has the biggest lineup - 17 on the roster - she's ever had.

Maher said Assistant Coach Nancy Anderson, a playing partner of hers, brings good experience and conditioning drills to the team.

Senior captains are Simran Chand and Emily McCoy. Other returnees are Amanda Berry, Megan Cooney, Julia Anderson, Hayley Lambert, Rachel Goldman, Tessa Leon-Gambetta, Sophie Wolfman, and Lauren Davis

Newcomers are junior Grace Corcoran and freshmen Marie Ann Tomaj, Amanda Conrod, Julia Klein, Mary Celentano, Katarina Rosen, and Leah Sundberg.

The Nighthawks will have to overcome the loss of four seniors, led by singles standout Lauren Beier, as they try to get back to the postseason. Newtown fell to Weston in the South-West Conference Tournament semifinals last spring. The Hawks expect Weston and Joel Barlow of Redding, as always, to be the toughest competition in the way as they go after one of top two spots in the conference this spring.

The snow, and later rain, got in the way during Newtown's preseason preparations, and the team had limited court access.

"This has been the most challenging year to start," Maher said. "It's going to be hard to come out and play. Everybody else is in the same boat I believe."

Members of the team are excited to get going regardless of how much preseason practice they missed out on.

"We have lots of new talent this year. We're looking forward to a really good season," Chand said.

There is a lot of love in tennis - from scoring terminology to the camaraderie on squads, and that is certainly the case with the Nighthawks.

"We have a really good coach. She's always encouraging. She loves us so it makes us love each other," McCoy notes.

The season opener is Tuesday, April 4, when Pomperaug of Southbury visits at 3:45 pm. Newtown visits New Milford the next day, also at 3:45 pm, in a match originally scheduled for April 1, but changed because of the rainy forecast. Weston visits on Thursday, April 6, also at 3:45 pm. NHS faces Weston again in late April, and takes on Barlow in mid-April and in the season finale, May 9.