Women's tennis kicks off spring season on Tuesday

ORANGE, Calif. – The unseasonably warm Southern California weather has already hinted at the start of the spring season. But it becomes official on Tuesday when the nationally-ranked Chapman University women's tennis team opens their 2011 season at Cal State Northridge at 2 p.m.

The Panthers open the new season ranked No. 13 in Division III and coming off their best finish in school history, placing second at the West Region championships last May. Chapman returns its entire starting lineup from a year ago, including senior All-Americans Liz Lewis and Kelley Fox who combined to go 39-9 in singles matches last season.

For their success, Chapman head coach Will Marino was named Division III West Region Coach of the Year by the ITA.

The Division I Matadors are 1-2 to begin the season, having lost to No. 49 Arizona on Saturday.

Chapman has – by far – it's toughest schedule in 2011, beginning with three consecutive road matches against scholarship schools to open the season (CSUN, Azusa Pacific, Cal State Fullerton). The Panthers then travel to Redlands in a rematch of Chapman's playoff victory from a year ago before coming home to face nationally-ranked Mary Washington (Va.) on March 1.

As far as the spring season goes, the Chapman baseball team will open its season on Friday at Whittier while the men's tennis and softball teams open on Saturday.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director