Hatters Host FAU In Spring Opener on Friday

First-year head coach Travis Sandlant leads Stetson women's tennis into their first match of the spring season on Friday when the Hatters welcome Florida Atlantic to Mandy Stoll Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

Sandlant came to Stetson in September from former Atlantic Sun Conference power East Tennessee, where he led the Buccaneers to three NCAA Tournament appearances in his six seasons as head coach. Arriving a month after the school year began, Sandlant used the fall tournament schedule to get to know a team he was largely unfamiliar with.

"Our primary goal in the fall was to win as much as possible," he said. "But it was also about building team chemistry, while also improving upon our weaknesses."

Sandlant inherited a roster mixed with experienced veterans and flush with new, young talent. Seniors Isabella Fernandez, Brittany Hill and Maja Salibasic, along with junior Arijana Korac and sophomore Alexe Viaud, give the Hatters a strong nucleus for the new season. With five first-year players on the roster, Sandlant knows the leadership of his veterans will be a key moving forward.

"It's everything," he said. "If the veterans aren't leading by example then it just filters on down. They did a great job last fall when I was coming in. They stayed strong despite all of the changes they've been through."

With the start of the season knocking on the door, Sandlant isn't quite ready to declare a regular lineup, saying it will likely undergo changes during the early part of the season. But he knows who'll be at the top.

"I expect Arijana (Korac) to play at No. 1," he said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing what she can produce. After that, a lot will depend on who is playing better on that day or during the week. The players who are healthy and playing the best tennis will take the top spots."

Korac was second on the team last season with 14 singles victories, seven of which came at the No. 2 position.

After having so much success within the ASUN at ETSU, Sandlant knows what it takes to be successful in league play. And he thinks the Hatters have what it takes to play with the ASUN's best.

"I think we can compete with the top teams in the conference," he said. "The big question we have is, can everyone do it on the same day? I know individually we can compete but as a team, can we do that every day? That's what we have to find out. More than anything, we have to stay healthy and peak at the right time. We don't want to be playing our best in February."

Mandy Stoll Tennis Center is located on University Ave. in DeLand, just east of Amelia Ave.

--SU--

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Fernandez: 5' 6"; Senior

Brittany Hill: 5' 6"; Senior

Arijana Korac: 5' 4"; Junior

Maja Salibasic: 5' 6"; Senior

Alexe Viaud: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Isabella Fernandez
: 5' 6"; Senior

Brittany Hill
: 5' 6"; Senior

Arijana Korac
: 5' 4"; Junior

Maja Salibasic
: 5' 6"; Senior

Alexe Viaud
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

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Hatters Host FAU In Spring Opener on Friday

Players Mentioned

Isabella Fernandez

Brittany Hill

Arijana Korac

Maja Salibasic

Alexe Viaud

Players Mentioned

Isabella Fernandez

Brittany Hill

Arijana Korac

Maja Salibasic

Alexe Viaud