HAMMOND, La.  – The Southeastern Louisiana University women's tennis team will open the spring portion of its 2022-23 schedule Friday, hosting LSU Alexandria at noon at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
Three-time All-Southland Conference selection Putri Insani returns to lead the Lions on the singles court. Newcomers Gabrielle Dekkers and Carla Del Barrio, as well as veterans Kate Oborina and Flory Bierma, among others are expected to bolster the singles lineup.
 
After earning all-conference honors a season ago, Insani and Bierma make up one of the Southland Conference's top doubles pairings and return to lead the doubles lineup for SLU. Dekkers and freshman Panatchakorn Suanarsa are poised to give the Lions an effective one-two punch in the doubles lineup.
 
A productive fall season has Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes heading into the spring with high hopes.
 
"We were playing very well at the end of the fall, so we're anxious to get back out there and compete," Hayes commented. "After Friday's opener, we won't play again for two weeks, so Friday's match will provide a good indication of what we need to continue working on.
 
"We want to be peaking and playing our best tennis when we open conference play," Hayes added. "We then want to peak again heading into the conference tournament."
 
Hayes enters the spring with a positive outlook for his team in both singles and doubles play.
 
"We're deeper in singles this season, so that gives us more options that can help us win matches," Hayes said. "Putri and Flory set the tone for us in doubles play and we expect them to have a very successful senior season. If we play the aggressiveness style that those two compete with throughout the doubles lineup, we're going to win a lot of doubles points."
 
LSU Alexandria comes to Hammond after being ranked third in the NAIA preseason top 25. The Generals finished 19-1 in 2022 and advanced to the national semifinals.
 
Following Friday's opener, Southeastern will play its next three matches away from home. The road swing starts Feb. 11 with a noon neutral site match versus Wyoming in McComb, Mississippi.
 
40 LOVE CLUB
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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