New Orleans - The New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team will take on the Tulane Green Wave in their season opener on Sunday afternoon at City Park. The match is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
The squad will start off with a local match in what is a road heavy 2018 slate. The Privateers participated in the Big Easy Classic, the ITA Southern Regional, and the George E. Fourmaux Invitational. In the last of the three, New Orleans went head-to-head against three Southland schools: Lamar, Nicholls, and Southeastern.
"It's been a tough week for us, but I think we'll be ready," said Coach
Burzis Kanga. "The girls are looking forward to this match and I think we can really play with them. This is a much-improved Tulane team and this will be a good indicator for us on how things transpire coming up."
The Privateers are led by
Anja Luethi and
Trang Dao. Luethi is the lone senior on the roster and was named second team Southland All-Academic. Dao earned honors from the Louisiana Sportswriters Association and the Southland Conference for her 8-2 mark against Southland opponents.
Brittany Johnson had a solid fall that included winning the consolation in Flight B at the ITA Southern Regional. She also defeated Katya Cornejo of Southeastern to help the Privateers to a third place finish at the George E. Fourmaux Invitational.
The weather has wreaked havoc in the New Orleans area over the week. Kanga said about the winter conditions and their effects, "We didn't necessarily get the time to prepare what we wanted to do, but it's not an excuse. I think the girls are looking forward to this opportunity."
Tulane went 22-7 last spring and 4-0 in conference during the regular season. The Green Wave fell to South Florida in the American Conference tournament. Maria Brito has taken over the program becoming the second head coach since women's tennis was brought back in 2008.
The Green Wave return five players from last year. That includes the trio of Ivone Alvaro, Elena Muller, and Christina Sisti who anchored the back of the rotation last season. Those three combined to go 55-14 in dual play last year while mostly holding down the four, five, and six spots. Alvaro scored five wins at number three singles last year.
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersTN on Twitter,
@UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like
/NewOrleansTennis on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel
