Newcomers debut in first fall tournament
9/25/2014 8:58:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Sam Houston women's tennis team opens its fall schedule this weekend as one of nine teams competing in the Northwestern State Demon Invitational in Natchitoches, La.
The Bearkats will have four new faces in their lineup to replace three graduating seniors.
“Everyone on the team is excited to get started,” head coach Jim Giachino said. “We've had good practices but there's nothing better than competition against other teams.”
Three of the newcomers are freshmen.
Mila Aurellano brings a strong junior tennis background from Lleoda, Spain. Fabienne Getlwart from Dreiech, Hessen, Germany, has won tournament titles in both her home country and France. Caitlyn Mitchell from Nhulunbury, Northern Territories in Australia, won junior titles in her home country.
Jana Lindenthal, a sophomore transfer who comes from Fulda, Germany, was all-conference and “newcomer of the year” at Brescia University last season.
Bailey Van Dyke will be a fifth new face in the lineup although she has been a Bearkat for a year. The Montgomery, Texas, product red-shirted in 2013-14 after playing as a freshman at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Senior Olivia Battye and juniors Maddie Mortimore and Karen Martinez return from last year's team. Battye and Mortimore both are from Great Britain and Martinez is from Columbia.
The 2014-15 Bearkats look to have a good mix of experience and young talent and expect to be stronger in doubles this season.
The Demon Invitational is the first of four tournaments scheduled this fall for the Bearkats.
Sam Houston travels to the Stephen F. Austin Classic in Nacogdoches October 11-12, the ITA Texas Regionals in Waco October 16-19 and the University of Houston Cougar Classic October 31-November 2.
The Kats begin their regular season dual match schedule January 25 with a home match against Texas-Pan American.
