HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's tennis team will open Southland Conference play with a pair of league matches in Texas.
 
The Lions (3-3) are scheduled to face Sam Houston State (5-3) to open the trip on Saturday at 11 a.m. On Sunday, SLU heads to Lamar (2-2) for a 12 p.m. match in Beaumont, Texas.
 
SLU is coming off losses to stalwarts Southern Miss and South Alabama. Despite the defeats, Lion head coach Jason Hayes has been pleased with the improvements have shown as the pre-conference season progressed and is optimistic his team will benefit from the stiff competition.
 
Sophomore Dany Raygadas heads into conference play as the team leader in singles victories at 4-2. Sophomore Dalina Dahlmans (3-2), senior Renee Villarreal (2-2), sophomore Lucia Bustamante (2-3), sophomore Ceci Mercier (2-4) and sophomore Madina Vorotnikova (1-2) make up the remainder of the Southeastern singles lineup.
 
Dahlmans and Villarreal make up an excellent No. 1 doubles pairing. The Lions' top duo and the No. 2 team of Bustamante and Mercier are 3-1 this spring. Raygadas and sophomore Margaux Kaltenbacher round out the doubles lineup.
 
Sam Houston State is led in singles play by senior Maddie Mortimore, who is 7-1 this spring at the bottom half of the lineup. The Bearkat duo of sophomores Fabienne Gettwart and Caitlyn Mitchell are 4-2 at No. 3 to lead SHSU.
 
Lamar's top singles records belong to juniors Talissa Merciers and Anna Spengler, as both Cardinals are 2-1 in dual match play. Merchiers and sophomore Stephanie Marchena have a team-best 2-1 mark in doubles play.
 
Following this weekend's action, Southeastern will close its five-match road swing with a 1 p.m. match at Southern on Thursday in Baton Rouge.