Alex Del Valle // Contributing Writer
After wrapping up a quarter of fall 2016 tournaments, the women’s tennis team will pick up where they left off after concluding a rigorous, yet rewarding month of match days that included four competitions from September through October.
FIU started off the 2017 season with a 6-1 victory over San Jose State University on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The game was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23, but was postponed due to weather.
The Panthers finished the fall season with a 41-22 record in singles action and 22-10 record in doubles play. The Bedford cup was by far the team’s best outing, escaping Tampa with four flight championships (two singles and two doubles).
The start of the 16-17 season has been a great springboard from the 2015-2016 season where the Panthers finished off one of their best seasons in 15 years, setting a winning percentage of .850 (second-highest in history). If this team eclipses last year’s mark, this could result in a historic season for the Panthers.
The team will play 11 home games as part of its 20-game 2017 schedule. Including the in-state road games the Panthers will play 16 of their 20 games in the state of Florida. Part of the in-state schedule includes a matchup with rival FAU on senior night, April 15.
The team will travel to Gainesville for a match on Jan. 28 where the Panthers will partake in a 60-team tournament known as the 2017 ITA Women’s Kick-Off Weekend. With 24 of the 60 teams participating ranked in the top 25 of the ITA collegiate rankings, there is no better place to start your season than in upstate Florida. FIU will face the No.1 ranked University of Florida, DePaul University and University of South Florida.
The longest homestand of the year begins on March 8 and runs through the end of spring break, March 18. Opponents include Penn, Boston University, VCU, Georgia Southern, Iowa and Towson, respectively.
The spring campaign winds down with the 2017 C-USA Women’s Tennis Championships, which is taking place in Denton, Texas, April 20-23.
About Post Author
