Cezanne Tollari pretty much summed up the enthusiasm -- if somewhat anxiously -- surrounding the Franklin Regional girls' tennis team this season.

Tollari, a senior, was bumped up from second singles to first singles for this season due to attrition because of graduation.

"I'm very excited to rise to the challenge, but it is a lot more difficult if you are constantly playing what the best each school has to offer," Tollari said.

The Panthers welcomed back several letter-winners from last season's 10-4 team that qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. But the graduation of top singles player Alexandra Bailey created a domino effect in which several players have been placed into more prominent roles.

"It's been a challenge because, with the exception of No. 1 doubles, everyone is playing up," said Howard Fisher, who is in his 30th season as coach at Franklin Regional.

"Our singles players are looking very promising. They all moved up at least one position, but it's still early in the season to know how it's going to pan out. But during the first three matches, at least, they've been playing very well and making the adjustments they need to move up the varsity ladder."

The Panthers won two of their three matches during the season's opening week last week, falling only to reigning Section 1-AAA champion Latrobe before defeating Connellsville Tuesday in another section match.

Last season, Franklin Regional finished in a three-way tie for second place in the section behind Latrobe and lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs to eventual champion Shady Side Academy.

The Panthers would accept a similar outcome this season.

"We're looking for a successful season," Fisher said. "We're not really looking to be in a position to win the section, after playing Latrobe and seeing how strong they are.

"We feel we're their best competition in the section, and we do feel that we can make the second-best team spot, and that's what we're aiming for right now, to try to make the playoffs and try to be a little better than last year in the playoffs.

"With a young team, you never really know. There's still a lot of questions to be answered as the season goes on."

What Fisher already knows is that Tollari and Madeline Rea form a solid senior co-captain duo who play in the top two positions of the lineup.

"Maddy and I both were voted captains, so we've been working really hard to just, outside of tennis, get everyone together and bond as a team," Tollari said. "On-court, we've all worked really well together."

Veteran junior Margaret Carlson figures on playing third singles at times, although freshman Lauren Bailey also has made a case for that spot. Some combination of juniors Kelsey Barner, Morgan Mechlenburg, Caroline Carlson and Sara Easterling, seniors Crystal Greenlund, Laura Maimo and Jodi Weightman will play doubles.

Bailey is the younger sister of Alexandra Bailey, who is now playing at Westminster College. Tall and athletic, Lauren Bailey figures to have a bright future.

If the Panthers can solidify the second doubles spot and have a regular team there capable of winning matches, they can achieve their playoff goal.

"Some of the girls are stepping up and have been working very hard," Tollari said.

"These girls work as hard as anybody," Fisher said. "Many of them are still untested and there's still a lot of tennis being played.

"Our team will tend to get better as the season goes on and they become adjusted to their positions and make improvements to their games. Our second half should be stronger than the first half."