CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The back to back Ohio Valley tournament champions, the Southeast Missouri women's tennis will open their 2023 fall schedule this weekend in Clarksville, Tennessee for the Austin Peay Fall Invitational.
The Austin Peay Invitational will be a three day event, lasting from Friday Sept. 22nd through the 24th.
The Redhawks are coming off of a 17 win spring season which tied for the most in program history. The 2023 season marked the first time in program history for the Redhawks to swept both the OVC regular-season and tournament crowns. The last time the Redhawks competed was in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the University of Tennessee on May 5.
Scouting the Opponent
Alabama Birmingham
Southeast will face the new member of the American Athletic Conference UAB, on Friday, the match beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Blazers are coming off of a 9-10 spring season (2-2 in conference play).
Their season ended in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament with a 4-1 loss to UTSA.
The Blazers return all eight players from the previous season; one sophomore, three juniors, two seniors, and two graduates. Klara Kajabova is the lone addition to the Blazers squad for the new campaign.
Mark Tjia, a veteran tennis coach with 26 years of experience, returns for his 10th season at the helm of the program.
Cumberland
On Saturday, the Redhawks will face Cumberland University with the match scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM. Last fall, Cumberland went 2-6 during their Mid-South Conference Fall Championships.
The Phoenix's went 8-10 during the 2023 season including a 7-3 record in conference play. They fell in the first round of the Mid-South Conference championships to Tennessee Southern 1-4.
The junior Maria Arbelaez from Valle del Cauca, Colombia is returning to Cumberland for the 2023 season. Arbelaez was named to the Mid-South First Team last season.
Cumberland is returning seven players from last season. Freshman Madeleine Darud and freshman Arisa Sabzezar are the two additions for the 2023 season.
Karen Martinez is entering eighth season with the Phoenix's. Martinez has 64 wins in seven seasons and has coached 22 All-Mid-South Conference selections and eight NAIA All-Americans.
Austin Peay State
The Redhawks will face Austin Peay on Saturday Sept. 23rd at 2:30 p.m. The former Ohio Valley mate finished last season with a 16-7 record, 6-3 in the ASUN.
The Governor's season ended in the ASUN Conference quarterfinals with a 3-4 loss to Liberty.
Austin Peay returns 2023 ASUN first teamer Jana Leder, and ASUN third team selection Denise Torrealba. The Graduate student and junior posted records of 15-4 (11-4 at #1), and 10-9 (8-6 at #2).
The Governors will have to replace All-ASUN Freshman and Second team selection Melody Hefti. Hefti notched a 16-4 overall record with a 7-1 conference record last season.
Others returning are Sophomores Ayden Kujawa, Asia Fontana, Sophia Baranov, and junior Yu-Hua Cheng. The Governors have one newcomer for the new season, Luca Bohlen from Berlin, Germany.
Head women's tennis coach Maria Sorbello Morrison enters her 12th year at APSU and second as the head coach.
Chattanooga
SEMO will end the Austin Peay Invitational with a match against Chattanooga on Sunday Sept. 24 at 9:30 a.m. The Moc's went 14-8 last season and 3-4 during conference play. Their season ended with a first round loss to Mercer 1-4 in the Southern Conference tournament.
Junior Rozalie Dohnalova and Graduate Student Caroline Gibbens earned postseason honors last season and will be the only returners for the upcoming season. Dohnalova was named to the All-Southern Conference Second Team in singles and Gibbens was selected to the All-Southern Conference Doubles Second Team.
Chattanooga added four new freshmen to their roster. Emma Pedretti a native of Italy, Madlena Orlova from Moscow, Russia, Margaret Manolache from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Sanja Djurdjevic a native of Serbia.
The Mocs also added two transfers. Alice Hall a transfer from Sewanee and Emma Peeler a transfer from Ball State.
Chad Camper is entering his eighth season as head coach.
Looking Ahead
Southeast Missouri tennis team will be at home for their next fall matchup, Friday, Sept. 29 to Sept. 30 against SIUE at the John C. Bierk Redhawks Tennis Complex. This will be the only home meet for the team during the fall season.
