Women’s Tennis Serves Up 2017 at RIC Tuesday

BOSTON – The 2017 campaign for Suffolk women's tennis officially gets underway Tuesday, Sept. 5 as the Rams hit the road for a season opening tilt at Rhode Island College. First serve at the RIC Outdoor Tennis Courts is set for 4 p.m.

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RAPID REWIND
Suffolk women's tennis made its 10th consecutive trip to the GNAC postseason, thanks to a 5-1 league leader. The blue-and-gold reached the semifinals for the third straight season behind three-time GNAC Player of the Year Aidiana Sagyndykova and two-time All-GNAC Singles First-Team selection Valentina Medina.

The Rams run was halted, however, by Simmons to cap off the 2016 season, 9-9 overall. 

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Suffolk lost two crucial racquets in Aidiana Sagynykova, the three-time GNAC Player of the Year, and Valentina Medina, a two-time all-conference singles first team and doubles second team honoree. Medina's doubles partner, also a second-team selection last season, Isableth Rathlev is back in Beacon Hill for her final season along with her co-captain Jacquelyn Nakamura. Juniors Meagan French, and Elena Cisneros Garcia and sophomore Danlyn Medou are all welcomed back and look to improve upon their individuals records to help Suffolk to its second league title. 

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Suffolk's line up will get a boost from new faces this season as three Rams join the blue-and-gold ranks in sophomore Keely Hardy and juniors Emily Bean and Delaney Dunlap. 

AT THE HELM
For the first season, Suffolk will be under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Tiberii, who has more than 20 years of experience as a tennis pro at multiple levels. 

ANCHORMEN ACKNOLWEDGES
Rhode Island has yet to drop a single set in 2017, sweeping Lesley and Salve Regina for a perfect 2-0 record. 

Dayna Reilly is the Anchormen's top racquet. The ace posted a golden match over the Lynx, before dropping just one point versus the Seahawks. 

In doubles, Reilly has partnered with rookie Emily Orticerio for the top team. The senior, freshman pair, notched a golden match in the season opener and picked up an 8-2 decision versus Salve Regina. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and RIC will meet for the 13th time since 2001. The Rams trail the all-time series, 4-8, with their last win coming in 5-4 fashion in 2012.
• The Anchormen have taken the last four meetings with the blue-and-gold.
• When traveling to RIC's home courts, Suffolk is 1-4 with its lone win over Rhode Island away from home coming in 2017.
• Tuesday's tilt marks the third match between the Rams and Anchormen in Suffolk's season opener. When competing against RIC in the first outing the year, Suffolk is 0-2, including a 5-4 setback in 2016, the teams last meeting. 

OPENING ACT
For the first time since 2014, Suffolk will lift the lid on its season on the road when it travels to RIC Tuesday. The Rams look to return to the win column in their season debut, after dropping a 5-4 thriller to the Anchormen to open 2016. 

MORE READING: Women's Tennis Picked Fourth in GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll 

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Interim head coach Matthew Tiberii has called upon seniors Jacquelyn Nakamura and Isabel Rathlev to help lead the Suffolk women's tennis in 2017 as captains. 

MORE READING: Nakamura, Rathlev to Lead Women's Tennis as Captains in 2017 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk hosts its first match under Tiberii Monday, Sept. 11 when Roger Williams pays a visit to the Rams. The 6 p.m. match will be played at North Reading High School.