JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven University men's and women's tennis teams open up the 2017 campaign at home against the University of Mobile on Friday at 2 pm. Both teams defeated the Rams in 2015 by scores of 6-3 in each match.

Mobile accumulated an 11-8 overall record last season, while the Lady Rams went 12-7 last season, and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

The Blazers' most recently faced off against Meridian Community College and Jones County Junior College last weekend in exhibition play.

The men's team is coming fresh off of a strong 19-5 season in 2016. The Blazers also went 4-1 in American Southwest Conference play, and advanced to the NCCAA Mideast Regional and NCCAA National Tournament in Mobile, Ala.

Belhaven will return several players who saw significant action last season in both singles and doubles play. Gabriel Da Costa went 9-9 last year at No. 2 and No. 3 singles while Rene Ramos and Pawel Tarasewicz went 14-3 and 14-2 respectively.

Tarasewicz also went 16-1 on the year at No. 3 doubles and won his final 13 doubles matches. Ramos finished with a 17-3 record at the No. 2 doubles position. 

Last season, the women's team posted an overall 16-8 record with a 4-1 conference finish. Due to last season's success, the women traveled to the NCCAA National Tournament in Mobile, Ala. The Blazers defeated Emmanuel College in the first round of the tournament.

The Blazers return nine members of last year's team, and have also added three new players to this season's roster.

Belhaven will return their No. 2 doubles tandem of Ivanna Echezuria and Mary Lichlyter, who collected a 17-5 record last season. Natalia Lopez, who played No. 1 doubles, will also be back after recording a solid 18-4 record last year.
 
The Blazers return five of their six top singles players from last season, including No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Echezuria and Brittany Keeling.

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