2017-18 Schedule

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – With two matches in the books, the UNCW women's tennis team embarks on its home schedule this week looking to get an early look at what it needs to work on as the 2017 spring season shifts into high gear.

The Seahawks, who reached the CAA finals last season, entertain Coastal Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 1, in a 1 p.m. match before wrapping up their first home weekend with a noon match on Sunday, Feb. 4,  vs. UNC Greensboro.

Hans Olsen, UNCW's third-year head coach, saw several positives in a pair of losses to Charleston Southern and Appalachian State last weekend in Charlotte.

"I thought we were very good in two categories," said Olsen. "Our movement and mental strength was excellent. We were really able to stay on task and stayed with what we're working on. Our team support was tremendous. We took a lot away from that.

"We got to see everybody compete. All 10 played in the two matches and that was really good for us. To be on the court in a competitive situation was something we wanted to accomplish."

The Seahawks are playing the first two of nine home matches before the CAA Tournament rolls around on April 20-22 in Elon, N.C.

"We're still in a lot of training and we'll see a lot of things pay off for us in a month from now. We're just on the next step for us. This week, it's about how we can improve our execution in singles and doubles. It will be good to work on it in another competitive situation."

Olsen's revamped team features 10 players, including senior standout Madara Straume, the CAA's outstanding player in last year's tournament and a participant in the ITA's Oracle Master's Tournament in Malibu last fall. Three new players – Rashika Ravindran (Chennai, India), Maddy Muller-Hughes (Perth, Australia) and Lea Dubois-Rebiere (Perigueux, France) – recently joined the team, giving Olsen and his staff additional options on the lineup card.

"Ten players has an energy to it," Olsen reflected. "When we're in a team huddle, the volume is up. They've been great. The most important thing I've been impressed with is their coachability. They take information and work at it very well. For our program, that's a talent that we hope for and definitely have it with these three new players."

Overall, the team features three seniors, one junior, one sophomore and five freshmen. The team went 11-8 in matches one year ago, compiling a 65-47 (.580) record in singles and 35-18 (.660) mark in doubles play.

Following the weekend's matches, the Seahawks continue their spring slate with matches at Winthrop (Feb. 17) and Davidson (Feb. 18) before returning home to face rival East Carolina (Feb. 23).