Golden Tigers Tennis Looks To Experience In 2014
With five returning players, including three NAIA All-Americans from last season's squad, the #5 nationally ranked Brenau Golden Tigers tennis team hopes to lean on its experience in the 2014 season.
Seniors Dominika Jasova (Kosice, Slovakia), Stephanie Moniz (London, England) and Zalina Nazarova (Nalchik, Russia), junior Maria Perdomo Medina (Canary Island, Spain) and sophomore Kelley Cohron (Buford, Ga.) bring experience from last year's team in hopes of continuing their previous team successes.
Jasova, the 2014 #5 nationally-ranked player in the NAIA, had a strong fall season as an individual at the USTA/ITA Small College National Championships. Moniz, a doubles specialist, has fought through injuries to become an integral part of the team, while teammate Nazarova enters the 2014 season as the #40 ranked player and looks to build off of her strong finish to last year's season.
Perdomo, the NAIA #20 ranked player last season, hopes to continue her success into her junior campaign, while Kelley Cohron is expected to be a solid contributor to the talented squad.
The Golden Tigers add two new players- junior Valeria Savina (Vologda, Russia) and freshman Snezhana Kiseleva (Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia) - who are expected to contribute immediately.
Savina, a transfer from New York Institute of Technology, brings collegiate playing experience, while Kiseleva is a very mature, intelligent player who will add to the team's talented roster.
Coach Andre Ferreira says that with his team's previous successes come high expectations, noting, "The bar is set very high for the new group and we are looking forward to the challenge. The top of the lineup brings tremendous experience and maturity to the team (with two seniors and one junior)".
"Our schedule this year will be tougher, both in terms of number of matches and quality of opponents. We will play two NCAA Division I teams, four NCAA Division II schools, NCAA Division III program and at least 7 ranked opponents in the NAIA".
The Golden Tigers tennis team opens their regular season on February 8th when they host Clayton State (Ga.) University at 1:00 pm.