New Orleans - The New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team (6-4) will look to continue the momentum gained off their previous week when they take on the NJIT Highlanders on Thursday at the University Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
New Orleans won both matches last week to push their record two games over .500. The Privateers first topped SIU-Edwardsville 6-1. Two days later, the Privateers got on the board in conference with a 4-3 win over Southeastern in Hammond.
"It should be an interesting match against NJIT who is coached by Zaki (former UNO player)," said Coach
Burzis Kanga. "A home match is always a great opportunity for us."
Trang Dao has elevated her play, which has translated into three straight singles wins. Dao has been a staple at the top of the Privateers' rotation and is 6-3 on the season. In doubles, Dao and
Anja Luethi have combined to post a 6-1 mark.
Luethi leads the squad in singles wins with eight. The senior picked up a 6-3, 6-4 win over Dany Raygadas. All of Luethi's singles wins have been capped in straight sets this season while playing exclusively at the two slot in the order.
This wil be the last non-conference match of the season for the Privateers. The remaining nine matches will be against conference competition. Seven of those will be on the road. The only home matches that remain will be against Abilene Christian (Mar. 24) and Central Arkansas (Apr. 7).
NJIT (6-5) is coached by Zaki Abdelrahman who graduated from New Orleans in 2013. He spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant and was elevated to head coach before the 2017-18 season. Last year, the Highlanders won their first ever postseason match when they defeated Kennesaw State in the first round of the Atlantic Sun tournament.
Advaita Saravanan has been a dominant force at the top of the Highlanders' rotation. Saravanan has put together a 10-1 record (4-0 at number one singles, 6-1 at number two). Rafaella Sampaio is 8-3 this season and Alba Rosas Garcia is 6-3. The Highlanders are coming on back-to-back wins of their own after defeating NYIT and Hofstra last weekend.
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