MONROE, La. - Fresh off a strong showing during the fall
campaign, the ULM tennis team opens the 2012 spring season at home this weekend
with a pair of matches at Heard Stadium. The Warhawks face regional opponents
McNeese State Saturday at 1 p.m. and Alcorn State Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
"We are excited to get the season underway," said head coach
Terrence De Jongh. "We have a tougher schedule than last year, and it will
challenge us to improve upon our success from 2011. I have a good feeling about
this season."
ULM had one of the best seasons in program history in 2011
after finishing with an 18-2 record which included 17 consecutive wins. It is
the fewest number of losses since the 1976-77 season when the Warhawks also finished
with an 18-2 record. ULM defeated No. 73 Mississippi State 6-1 on Feb. 27 to
vault it to a No. 46 national ranking.
Vivian Polack leads the Warhawks this season after an
impressive fall which included titles at the ITA Regional Championship and the
SFA Fall Invite to garner a No. 88 national ranking in the ITA and NCAA. The
senior went 15-4 in singles in 2011 and 17-3 in doubles with former Warhawk Ana
Burjaili to earn All-Sun Belt Singles and Doubles recognition along with
All-Louisiana honors.
Senior Monica Winkel returns following a 14-5 mark last
season, including a 12-4 record at No. 2 singles. She and former ULM standout
Claire Clark lost just one doubles match the entire year to compile a 19-1
record and a perfect 6-0 conference record. Winkel is the only other Warhawk
returning to earn All-Sun Belt Singles and Doubles honors as well as an
All-Louisiana nod.
Sophomores Medy Blankvoort and Letha Gaigher will continue
to provide depth after strong freshman campaigns. Gaigher won 15 of her final 16
matches in straight sets to finish 16-3 and be named the All-Louisiana Freshman
of the Year. Blankvoort went 11-6 in singles last spring and 4-0 at the Ragin'
Cajun Classic during the fall to claim the A1 singles title. She also won the
A1 doubles title with Winkel.
Sophomore Isabelle Rocher begins dual match play after transferring
from New Mexico State and competing over the fall when she won her flight at
the NSU Invitational. Sophomore Taylor Shepherd also reenters the Warhawk
lineup while redshirt freshman Sophie Rufykiri, junior transfer from Florida
Gulf Coast Bibiana Almeida and freshmen Clara Di Virgilio, Silvia Tumova and
Ema Turudija hit the court for the first time.
Following its season opener ULM hits the road for four
consecutive matches capped by a visit to Mississippi State on Feb. 16.The
Warhawks return to Heard Stadium for its second consecutive SEC match-up in
three days when they host Auburn Feb. 19 to kick-off a five-match homestand
which includes Southern Miss and their first conference match against Arkansas
State.
ULM makes a three-day swing through Arkansas Mar. 8-10 when
it faces Arkansas Fort-Smith, Central Arkansas and UALR and travels to No. 31 SMU
Mar. 25. The Warhawks make a stop at home Mar. 22 to host in-state and
conference foe UL-Lafayette before closing the home slate against Stephen F.
Austin and Middle Tennessee on Apr. 1 and Apr. 6. They play their final two
matches on the road Apr. 13 at UAB and Apr. 15 at Tulane before heading to
Denton, Texas for the Sun Belt Tennis Championships Apr. 19-22.
