LAKELAND, Fla.- The Southeastern University women's tennis team is set to open the 2022 campaign. With a roster of experienced leadership and talented youth, the Fire are poised to battle their way back into the upper echelon of the Sun Conference and garner attention on the national scale.
The SEU women are coming off a 5-7 2021 season, where the Fire finished fifth in The Sun Conference. Southeastern enters the 2022 campaign picked to finish fourth in the SUN per the 2022 Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Fire bring back a total of five returners to the court in 2022. Leading the way is 2021 Second Team All-SUN selection Beatrice Letizia. The junior from Rimini, Italy was 7-3 at top line singles last season.
Also rejoining the Fire is junior Priscila Baptista, who has gone 17-8 as a singles' competitor over the last two seasons.
"Priscila is the captain of the women's team, and brings a large amount of stability and leadership to the program," shared SEU head coach Drew Dickens. " She is coming off a tremendous fall, and is playing some of her best tennis."
Coach Dickens has brought in a total of six newcomers to the 2022 squad, five of which are freshman. The depth of this year's team is a huge plus for Coach Dickens.
"Having a larger team than last year has been a huge blessing," remarked Coach Dickens. "I believe the mix between our youth, as well as our juniors and seniors will play a large role in this upcoming season."
Irene Lopez is one of the featured freshmen this season for the Fire. The Barcelona, Spain native is coming off a solid fall campaign, in which she advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEU Invitational.
Neleah Neiberline is another key first-year collegiate player for Southeastern. The Lakeland native and McKeel Academy graduate impressed in her fall debut as well, going undefeated at the Rollins Invitational.
The Fire are set to compete tomorrow on the road versus NCAA Division II Saint Leo University at 10:00 a.m.
