HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana women's tennis team opens a promising spring with a pair of nonconference matches versus in-state competition.
 
The Lions open the weekend's action on Saturday, traveling to Tulane (2-0) for a 3:30 p.m. match. On Sunday, SLU returns home to host UL Lafayette (3-0) for a 1 p.m. match at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
All-Southland performer Putri Insani returns after posting a 10-6 record at No. 1 singles in her first spring in Hammond. Flory Bierma, Katya Cornejo and Ximena Yanez also return to give SLU a solid veteran core. Southeastern's prospects are buoyed by key additions Kyra Akinnibi, Kim Bohlen, Teodora Mitrovic and Polina Sleptsova.
 
In doubles play, Insani and Yanez maked up the team's top doubles tandem. The Lion duo finished 5-3 in Southland play a season ago. Bierma and Bohlen, as well as Cornejo and Akinnibi are slated to be SLU's other doubles tandems.
 
"We feel like this is our most talented team since (the Southland Conference championship season of) 2013," Lion head coach Jason Hayes commented. "We're really pleased with our depth and each match we have eight viable options to fill the six sports in our lineup."
 
Tulane is one of two nonconference matches away from home for the Lions. On Feb. 16, SLU faces Wyoming in McComb, Mississippi. UL Lafayette is the first nonconference visitor to Hammond. Jackson State (Feb. 1), LSU Alexandria (Feb. 2), Alcorn State (Feb. 4), Illinois State (March 11), Massachusetts (March 18) and Missouri State (March 19) also visit the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
"We want to be playing our best tennis in conference play," Hayes commented. "To do that, we have to use these first few nonconference matches to work on the things that will allow us to be successful in March and April. We can't change our play depending our opponent. We have to use the nonconference schedule to get better, because the Southland Conference schedule is brutal."
 
The Lions open league play at Abilene Christian on Feb. 28 and will also visit UIW (March 1), McNeese (March 14), New Orleans (April 3), Nicholls (April 5), Sam Houston State (April 9) and Stephen F. Austin (April 11). Lamar (March 6), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 8), Central Arkansas (March 27) and Northwestern State (March 29) will play conference matches in Hammond.
 
"There are simply no easy matches in conference play this season," Hayes commented. "We feel like we're much improved from a year ago, but so are the rest of the teams in our league. We have to use nonconference play to get better every time out, because we'll have to be ready to play for every Southland Conference match."
 
Up Next
Southeastern will continue a four-match home stand om Saturday, Feb. 1, hosting Jackson State for a 3 p.m. match at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
40 LOVE CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the tennis program are encouraged to join the 40 Love Club. Lion tennis alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the 40 Love Club and S Club (tennis) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern tennis program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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