NEW ORLEANS - After a 2-0 start to the 2019 spring campaign, the New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team will look to keep the ball rolling. The Privateers will embark on a four-match weekend, facing Loyola (N.O.), Xavier (La.), Prairie View A&M, and Louisiana Tech. All matches will take place at the University Tennis Center.
The Privateers defeated a pair of SWAC opponents last weekend to kick off the season. A 6-1 victory against Alcorn State opened proceedings. The Privateers came back the next day and defeated Jackson State 4-2.
"I think everyone is playing well and this is a great opportunity for us playing these four matches. It will not be an easy weekend by any means but this is what's going to gear us toward when conference play starts."
Trang Dao and
Mar Gendra both went 2-0 in singles and the two combined for a 2-0 mark in doubles. Gendra earned the match clinching point against Jackson State. Gendra won 10 spring matches as a freshman last season.
The weekend kicks off a very home heavy schedule for the Privateers. They will have 11 of the next 15 matches on their home court. The only road trips in that stretch are to South Alabama, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, and Nicholls.
"We'll give an opportunity to all eight players to compete this weekend," said Kanga. "And I believe this is where the depth of this roster will show."
Of the four opponents this weekend, the Privateers have not lost a single match against any of them since 1996. New Orleans is 23-0 in that stretch with their most triumphs coming against Xavier (12). The Privateers have defeated Loyola seven times.
Loyola began their spring with two convincing wins against Blue Mountain College and Belhaven. In the preseason poll, Xavier was picked third, their highest ever ranking in NAIA. The Gold Nuggets own a win over a Division I opponent (Texas State).
Prairie View A&M is off to an 0-6 start with losses to two Southland schools in Sam Houston State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Louisiana Tech opened their season at the Hurricane Invite in Tulsa where they went 1-2. Their victory came against Oral Roberts.
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