Ranked Opponents Populate UWA Tennis Schedule

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – With a schedule full of nationally ranked opponents, the West Alabama men's and women's tennis teams are set to open the 2021 spring season Saturday with exhibition matches at NCAA Division I Jacksonville State.

Both teams will play three exhibitions against Division I programs before the regular season gets underway the weekend of Feb. 6-7 in Midlothian, Texas with matches currently scheduled against UT Tyler and Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Including Southeastern Oklahoma, the Tigers have 11 teams that ended last season in the NCAA Division II national rankings. Among those are defending men's national champion Columbus State Feb.20 at the Vaughan Tennis Complex on the UWA campus.

"I am excited to get started with both our men and women and see what we can accomplish this year," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said. "Both teams have great talent and depth and I believe we will compete for the GSC championship."

"On the men's side we have Christopher Bulus and Ilari Vesanen returning as All American's in doubles last year," Beaman said. "Sarah Manseri, who has been ranked nationally in singles the past two years, is back healthy again for the women."

In addition to Columbus State and Southeastern Oklahoma, nationally ranked opponents on the UWA schedule include Gulf South Conference programs West Florida, Valdosta State, Auburn-Montgomery and Delta State.

Although not short on quality competition, the 2021 season will not feature many home matches. The Tiger men will play just four home matches and the women six. Eight of those 10 are GSC matches.

Both the UWA men and women open at home against Shorter on Feb. 13, followed by Columbus State on Feb. 20. Mississippi College's men and women visit the Vaughan Tennis Complex March 10, while Delta State's men and women come to town on April 4. The women are host to AUM April 1.

Both schedules can be found at www.uwaathletics.com.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Manseri: 5' 7"; Senior

Ilari Vesanen: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Christopher Bulus: 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Sarah Manseri
: 5' 7"; Senior

Ilari Vesanen
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Christopher Bulus
: 6' 1"; Junior