Minutewomen Host Albany In Season Opener
The Minutewomen begin their quest for an Atlantic 10 Title on Sunday February 4 as they host the University of Albany at the Bay Road Tennis Club on the campus of Hampshire College. The match starts at 12 noon. The last time the Minutewomen won the A-10 was in 2001. They finished in third last year and second the season before and look to build upon the success. The Minutewomen return to the Bay Road Tennis Club the following weekend to host Columbia on February 10 and St. John's on February 11.

How To Get To Hampshire College
Please note that although this is a home match, it will be held on the campus of nearby Hampshire College. Please click on the links above for complete directions and a campus map. Once on campus, the Bay Road Tennis Club is marked as number three, the Multisports Center.

Series History
• This marks the first ever match between these two schools.
• Even though the teams have never played in a dual match, they are very familiar with each other. Numerous times, members from the Minutewomen and Great Danes clashed during tournament play in the fall.
• In the Eastern Collegiate Invitational, Masha Pozar defeated Kim Weltman of Albany, 6-0, 6-1.
• In the quarterfinals, Michele Spiess and Maude Lecluyse defeated Kim Westcott and Aimee Kern, 8-2.
• At the ITA Regionals, Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar defeated Amanda Hall and Christina Suarez, 8-5.

Harvard Added To Schedule
Please note a match that has recently been added to the schedule. UMass will travel to Cambridge on March 13 to play Harvard at 3 p.m.

Chasing 63 ...
Senior Michele Spiess is looking to make history. She is ten singles wins shy of tying Jackie Braunstein's UMass record of 63. If she gets the record, it would be in only three years. Keep tabs on her progress throughout the season by checking www.umassathletics.com.

Preseason Coaches Poll-UMass Predicted To Finish Third In A-10

1. Richmond
2. Charlotte
3. Massachusetts
4. Temple
5. Xavier
6. Saint Louis
7. George Washington
8. Duquesne
9. Rhode Island
10. Fordham
11. Dayton
12. Saint Joseph's
13. St. Bonaventure
14. LaSalle

Season Preview
The UMass women's tennis team looks to build upon two consecutive successful seasons. After finishing in second place in the Atlantic 10 in 2005, the Minutewomen finished in third last year and look to take the next step. The two top players from last year's squad are returning, including Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Michele Spiess. A talented batch of incoming players looks to fill the voids of departed seniors Jana Bartoloni, Lesley Fisher, Dorothy Iwanowicz, and Susan Johnson.

"Last year we had three seniors in the starting six and this year we have three freshmen in the starting six," said Head Coach Judy Dixon. "This could be one of the most talented teams I've ever had. One of the pluses this year is that we're young and one of the minuses is that we are young. On paper, this team can do very well."

This year's schedule remains a challenge. UMass will face some of the top programs in the Northeast in Boston University, Brown, and Richmond. It will help the team prepare for Atlantic 10 play, said Dixon. "Our schedule remains tough for a reason. I am not as concerned how we do with the wins and losses except when it comes to the conference. The conference is everything to me. As we go through our schedule, we are trying to use this tough schedule as a way to make sure that we are competitive and match ready when it comes to the conference."

Co-Captains Michele Spiess and Masha Pozar lead the team at No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. They may also team up at the No. 1 doubles position. Spiess, a senior, was named A-10 Player of the Year last season after going 24-4 in singles play and 21-4 in doubles play. Over her collegiate career, including her time at Louisville, where she transferred from after freshman year, she has recorded a combined record of 131-48. She ranks 5th on the UMass all time singles wins list with 53 victories.

Junior Masha Pozar will start at the No. 2 spot. An A-10 All-Conference member last season, she has a career record of 76-43. With two years remaining, Pozar, who already ranks ninth all-time in careers doubles wins, looks to jump in to the top ten in singles victories before the year is done.

Singles Nos. 3 through 5 will consist of a trio of freshmen as Dixon said. "We're not sure whether it will be Dasa (Stanimirovic) or Ellen (de Jong) at No. 3. We are looking at either one of them. We know that Maude (Lecluyse) will probably play 4 or 5 and Stephanie (Gimenez) will definitely play 6. One of the nice things about the freshmen is that we see them as pretty interchangeable. That gives us some flexibility in the middle. What I know is 1, 2, and 6. The rest are interchangeable."

The team's depth will prove to be valuable as the season progresses. Sophomore transfer Laura Murillo will start the season at the No. 7 spot. Murillo went 15-9 in singles play at Sacred Heart last season and looks to continue her success with the Minutewomen. Lauren MacKay, Kristin DiPiero, and Carly Ludmer are eager to see action as well, and could step in at any time.

Michele Spiess is the only senior on the UMass squad. Along with wanting to win the conference, Dixon wants to send Spiess off on the right foot. "Our team goals always are to win the conference. We've finished second and third the last two years. Our other goal is to have a winning season and to try to do well within the Northeast region against strong competition. We want to give Michele a solid year as she leaves.