Rebuilding is an ugly word.

But that's the task many area high school girls tennis teams face this season.

Knoch's Chelsea Gibson is back. So is last year's super freshman Danielle Delligatti of Grove City.

But many area teams saw most, if not all, of their starting singles and doubles lineups from a year ago leave via every coaches' bugaboo, graduation.

That leaves a lot of unknowns on area tennis courts this fall.

What isn't unknown, though, is Gibson's play.

The junior has been ranked as high as No. 1 by the U.S. Tennis Association in her age group and is coming off a section championship.

"Chelsea is definitely experienced," said Knoch coach Melissa Barger. "Chelsea should do well this year. She's a section champ and went to states, and she's been ranked by the USTA."

The Knights, though, lost a lot to graduation, including Natalie Jenereski, who teamed with Gibson on the Knoch No. 1 doubles team.

Knoch has just three letterwinners returning and has 12 new faces in the crowd.

No one, though, lost as much as Seneca Valley, which watched its entire singles and doubles lineup trade in their tennis racket for a diploma.

That leaves a lot of inexperience in the lineup.

But Raiders coach Jason Shorr isn't conceding anything. He has a slew of seniors who are ready to take their turn in the program.

"I know what I can expect," Shorr said. "A lot of hard work and dedication. This summer, they all worked harder than any group I've ever had."

Grove City is the lone team that has much of its core returning.

That core is strengthened by Delligatti, who as a freshman in 2004 was undefeated through the regular season before losing in the district tournament.

"She was a pleasant surprise," said Grove City coach Shawn Sowers. "She had a very good season."

Following is a capsulated look at the area girls tennis teams:

<B>Coach:</B> Alisa Green, Second year<B>Last year:</B> 11-7 overall, 5-5 in section play<B>They're gone:</B> Jocelyn Kerr, Ashley Brenckle, Sarah Janicki, Ashley Grenek, Ashlee Green, Katie Goettler, Samantha Evanhoch<B>They're here:</B> Courtney Kerr (junior), Kristin Cypher (junior), Angie Byrnes (junior), Maggie McGinnis (junior), Melanie Ward (junior), Katherine Sylvia (sophomore), Elisa Nesbitt (sophomore), Hannah Rocchi (sophomore), Kellie Oesterling (senior)<B>Outlook:</B> The Golden Tornado lost a good chunk of their starting lineup to graduation, yet still have plenty of players who can contribute this season."We have a lot of depth," Green said. "We have many sophomores and junior on the team, and we're a pretty tight group."

<B>Coach:</B> Jason Shorr, Fourth year<B>Last year:</B> 7-3 in section<B>They're gone:</B> Kelly Stenger (undefeated section champion), Catherine Gignac, Grace Larkin, Mindy McCloskey, Brittany Johnson, Veronica Delgreco, Danielle Millett, Rebekah Aluise<B>They're here:</B> Rachael Gloor (senior), Nicole Lucy (junior), Jen Cristalli (senior), April Glasser (senior), Ashley Reed (senior), Sarah Brookes (senior)<B>Outlook:</B> The Raiders lost their entire singles and doubles lineup to graduation, including their No. 1 singles player in Stenger.But Seneca Valley is a senior-laden team that just lacks experience."They all played, but not at a real high level of competition," Shorr said.

<B>Coach:</B> Melissa Barger, eighth year<B>Last year:</B> Finished .500<B>They're gone:</B> Natalie Jenereski, Katie Rummel, Caitlin Coco, Katelyn Hanson, Elise Born<B>They're here:</B> Chelsea Gibson (junior), Tiffany Allen (senior), Carly Fitzgerald (junior), Laura Winters (junior), Lindsay Cehily (junior)<B>Outlook:</B> The Knights return one of the best players in the state in Gibson, but the rest of the lineup is full of inexperienced players."It's going to be a rebuilding year," Barger said. "We have a lot of fresh faces."

<B>Coach:</B> Mark Varlotta, fifth year<B>Last year:</B> 11-5, section champs<B>They're gone:</B> Christine Clark, Brittany Barnes, Lauren Ludwig, Amanda Charles<B>They're here:</B> Katrina Erdahl (sophomore), Erin Flynn (junior), Christie Hansen (senior), Brooke Barnes (sophomore), Staci Moeller (junior)<B>Outlook:</B> The Planets lost their No. 2 and No. 3 singles players, as well as a doubles team to graduation, but they still have a solid core returning from a section championship team."Last year, we won the section for the first time, but it's hard to tell how we will do with what we have coming back," Varlotta said. "I'm confident we will be competitive.

<B>Coach:</B> Shawn Sowers, eighth year<B>Last year:</B> 15-3, second in the region<B>They're gone:</B> Michaela May, Carrie Phillips<B>They're here:</B> Julie Molloy (senior), Danielle Delligatti (sophomore), Kathryn Myer (senior), Catiti Trent (sophomore), Christine Port (junior), Kendall Tersch (senior)<B>Outlook:</B> The Eagles had an exceptional season in 2004, but finished behind Wilmington for the region title.This year, things appear in place for Grove City to make another run at the region and perennial power."They're the team to beat," Sowers said of the Greyhounds. "They're won it the last four years. We really going to have to work to beat them."