Spartan Tennis Set to Open 2012 Season

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa tennis team will play its first match of the 2012 season on Friday as it hosts Warner University. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m., at the UT Tennis Complex.

Head coach Al DuFaux welcomes back 10 letterwinners from a 2011 squad that won five matches while playing a total of 12 ranked opponents. The Spartans finished 2011 as the No. 50 team in the nation.

DuFaux welcomes four newcomers, including three international players. Thashia Garcia (Caracas, Venezuela), Jenelle Morgan (Flemington, N.J.), Chloe Pereira (Port Au Prince, Haiti) and Meg Wladimirski (Sao Paulo, Brazil) will each challenge for spots in the Spartan lineup.

Tampa's entire starting lineup from 2011 also returns, headlined by number-one singles player Leslie Raymond. Also returning are Kathleen Beckham, Maddie Caropino, Becky Ewing, Amber Fahrner, Lauren Hewett, Megan Mancini, Briana Ryan, Victoria Simon and Nikol Williams.

In addition to Raymond, Hewett also played four matches at the number-one spot in 2011. Beckham and Williams also spent time at the number-one doubles position.

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