CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis opens their spring 2018 schedule with two matches at the University of Missouri this weekend. The Redhawks face Mizzou on Saturday at 11 a.m., CT before they take on Central Arkansas on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Mizzou Tennis Complex.
 
"The ladies are very excited to be playing matches this weekend," head coach Mary Beth Gunn said. "They are ready to showcase the hard work they have put into this program. Our goal for these opening matches is to engage our opponents and use these matches as learning opportunities to continue to grow our game." 
 
SEMO enters the 2018 season after competing in four tournaments in the fall including the Central Arkansas Fall Invitational Sept. 22-23. Oleksandra Doroshenko placed second at that tournament and returns for her second collegiate season after she earned Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and All-OVC accolades in 2017 (16-5 in singles, 14-6 in doubles).
 
Doroshenko was second on the team with 14 wins in the fall (9-4 in singles and 5-4 in doubles) behind Kseniya Zonova who totaled 15 (10-4 in singles and 5-4 in doubles) and was a semifinalist in the consolation bracket at the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Central Regional Championship.
 
Juniors Isabella Krupa and Anais Emelie join Doroshenko and Zonova as the four returners on a team that features three freshmen in Maja Lundell, Alessandra Maya Thompson and Kelly Sicha.
 
Krupa totaled a 14-6 record at the top doubles spot with Doroshenko in 2017, which is tied for fourth most wins in a single season at Southeast.
 
Zonova and Emelie combined for a 10-6 mark last season at the second doubles position. Zonova also fashioned a 13-7 singles record.
 
SEMO commences its spring campaign with matches against Mizzou on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Tigers went 11-14 in 2017 and fell to Ole Miss in their SEC Tournament opener, 4-2. Mizzou returns senior Amina Ismail who competed in the 2017 NCAA Doubles Tournament.
 
The Redhawks conclude the weekend on Sunday (9 a.m.) with a matchup with Central Arkansas. The Sugar Bears notched a 21-7 overall record last season and finished second at the Southland Conference Tournament after dropping a 4-2 decision to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the championship final. UCA's team features three seniors, three juniors and a sophomore.