VIDEO: Jean Love Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman women's tennis team opens the season up against two Sunshine State Conference opponents in Florida Tech and Palm Beach Atlantic.

"We've worked hard on our conditioning program," Carson-Newman tennis coach Jean Love said. "We've also been working hard in practice to refine our dobles combinations, and our mental approach to the upcoming season."

Carson-Newman finished last season with an overall record of 14-6 and a conference record of 5-3. The Eagles were 0-2 against regional competition during the 2016 season.

The Eagles are led by second team All-SAC selections Ali Harris and Jill Corsato-Owsianka at the No.1 and No.2 positions in singles play. Harris went 12-7 during her freshman campaign at the No.1 singles spot, While Corsato-Owsianka finished with 17-2 overall record and a 15-2 record at the No.3 position for the Eagles last season.

Florida Tech last season went 13-10 overall and 2-6 within conference play. The Panthers had an 11-match win streak against non-ranked opponents, but finished the season on a seven game losing streak all against ranked opponents.

"We are going to stay focused on ourselves and play the way we play." Love said about facing Florida Tech, "We're going to focus on ourselves cause that's the way we know how to be successful." 

The Panthers have a trio of players that won 20 or more matches last season. Junior Kayla Hergott had a 24-9 record last season mainly at the No. 3 and No.4 positions in singles. Junior Erin Egoroff finished last season with a 20-11 record splitting time between the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Lauren Stuckey went 23-6 as a freshman last season mainly at the No. 6 position in singles.

Florida Tech returns their No.2 doubles team of Egoroff and Meritt Rabson. Last season the duo finished with a record of 11-6. The Panthers also return their No.3 doubles team with Hergott and Alahna Reto. The duo of Hergott and Reto went 9-6 last season, ending on a five match losing streak.

Palm Beach Atlantic finished last with an overall record of 9-11 and is still considered a provisional member of the Sunshine State Conference. The Sailfish went 1-5 to close out the season with a victory over Florida Tech.

"Our goal is to not get injured on Friday and to compete well on Saturday," Love said about their match against Palm Beach Atlantic. 

The Sailfish are led by senior Valerie Nagovitcina who played at both the No.1 and No. 2 spots in singles play, while compiling an 11-7 record. Junior Michaela Mignemi was the only other returning Sailfish to have a winning record in singles play with a 9-8 combined record at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots. 

-CN-