HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women’s tennis team will open the spring portion of its 2023-24 slate Saturday with a 4 p.m. match at LSU.

Both the Lions and the host Tigers will be opening spring play Saturday. Live video and stats, provided by the hosts, will be accessible via the women’s tennis schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern enters the spring with a young roster, as SLU boasts just one senior and five true freshmen among its ranks. Lion head coach Jason Hayes is excited about his new-look squad’s potential.

“Our team has shown a great work ethic and a lot of heart,” Hayes commented. “We’re young, but I’m looking forward how to see what we’re capable of once we’re in competition. What’s exciting about a young team is that we’ll continue to learn and grow together as the spring progresses.”

Southeastern’s top returner is junior Kate Oborina, who earned All-Southland Conference honors at No. 4 singles after finishing 10-8 overall and 4-2 in league matches last spring. She and senior Alba Perez (8-10) are the team’s returning starters, while fellow returners Bogi Csordas and Panatchakorn Suanarsa are both expected to have a larger role this spring.

SLU also has high hopes for a quartet of first-year players. Freshmen Leana Gomez, Bente Bierma, Claudia Di Leonardo and Taisia Bolsova provide the Lions with an infusion of talent.

In doubles play, Bierma and Gomez are slated to pair together, as are Suanarsa and Bolsova, along with Perez and Csordas.

LSU, which opens Saturday’s action with a 10 a.m. match versus Louisiana Tech, finished 13-11 a season ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers’ top performer this fall was Kinaa Graham, who finished 12-5 in singles play and teamed with Anita Sahdiieva for a team-best 4-1 doubles mark.

Saturday’s match is the first of three straight matches away from home to open the spring for Southeastern. After the match in Baton Rouge, SLU will next face Florida A&M in a 1 p.m. match Jan. 26 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.