MONROE, La. – The ULM tennis team will open their spring season by taking on local foes, the Grambling State Tigers on Tuesday (Feb. 4) afternoon, starting at 2 p.m. in Heard Stadium. With a new roster and excitement for a new season, the Warhawks are looking to exceed expectations in head coach Ivone Alvaro's second season at the helm.
 
The Warhawks have not played the Tigers since 2022, with ULM on a four-match win streak dating back to 2008. In the most recent meeting, the Warhawks took the win 6-1 over Grambling State on Jan. 22, 2022, sweeping in doubles play.
 
The Warhawks are showing up with a fairly new team this season, returning two of seven from the 2023-24 season. Junior Mariam Hatem returns for her third season at ULM, while sophomore Raquel Alvaro returns for her second. ULM brings in five newcomers from around the world. Freshmen Vanja Cado, Mariia Iordanova and Tingyi Li enter the lineup, with juniors Camila Molina Barranco and Lucia Jorrin Fernandez rounding out the 2024-25 team.
 
In the fall, the Warhawks were able to capture a few wins in the tournaments they competed in. Cado, Jorrin, Iordanova and Barranco all claimed singles wins in the ITA Southern Regional Championships, with Barranco and Iordanova defeating players from Alabama and Mississippi State, respectively. At the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational in October, Jorrin, Cado and Iordanova claimed singles wins, with the duo of Barranco/ Jorrin claiming a doubles win as well.
 
After opening the season at Heard Stadium, the ULM tennis team will hit the road, traveling to take on Stephen F. Austin on Friday (Feb. 7). The Warhawks are looking to continue on their three-match win streak in Nacogdoches over the Lumberjacks.