Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's tennis team will open the spring 2017 dual match schedule this Saturday in Sherman. The Cru will take on Austin College in a 9:00 AM non-conference match to open the season.
The UMHB women enter the spring with three returning letter winners back from last year's ASC Tournament qualifier. The Cru is led by Ashlee Montgomery (So., Georgetown), Hope Nash (So., Sugar Land) and Shannon Kelly (So., Keller). Montgomery led UMHB in singles wins and doubles wins as a freshman last season and Nash earned ASC All-West Division honors in both singles and doubles. Kelly should step into a larger role after seeing limited time in the line-up last season. The Cru women will also count on a group of freshmen to step up and make an immediate contribution this season. Cameron Hagler (Fr., Taylor), Grace Igarta (Fr., Fredericksburg), Haleigh Johnson (Fr., La Vernia), Kelly Rose (Fr., Kingwood) and Hannah Whalen (Fr., Round Rock) will all have an opportunity to play their way into the line-up for a team that does not have an upperclassman on the roster. Montgomery and Igarta were named to the ASC Preseason Players to Watch list and the UMHB women were picked to finish fifth in the West Division in the league's Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Cru finished 4-11 overall and went 3-2 in ASC West Division play last season. Following Saturday's season opener, the UMHB women will return to action with a non-conference match at Southwestern University on March 4th. The home opener is set for March 11th and the Cru women open ASC West Division play with a home match against Sul Ross State on April 1st.
