TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo's women's tennis team starts the new season looking to maintain the momentum from last spring when the Rockets won their final nine matches of the 2020-21 campaign. The 2021-22 schedule will feature matches in eight different states, including Florida and California. 

Toledo returns eight of its top nine players from 2020-21. The team will consist of graduate student Patricia Panta, seniors Eileen Carney and Christina Fuller, juniors Laura Morera and Sloane Teske, and sophomores Cassie Alcala, Julia Kuszynski and Shalini Tallamraju. Alcala was the 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year.

"We are thrilled to get going this fall with our tournament competition, especially since we were unable to travel and compete last fall," Mauntler said. "Cassie, Julia and Shalini will be experiencing the fall tournaments for the first time in the next few months. We are fortunate to host two events at Toledo, which will be as close to team-format scoring as we are permitted to get in the fall."

The Rockets will begin the fall season at the ITA Regionals in Urbana, Ill. on Sept. 23 before returning home to host the Rocket Invitational on Oct. 1-2. Toledo will then compete at the Super Regionals in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 21-24 before hosting the second session of the Rocket Invitational on Oct. 29-30 to conclude the fall schedule.

The non-conference schedule will resume on Jan. 15 against Liberty and Florida Golf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida. Toledo will return home for five straight home matches, including meetings vs. Duquesne and UIC. The non-conference schedule will include matches against West Virginia and George Washington in West Virginia as well as facing UC-Riverside and Cal-State Fullerton in California during spring break.

"The winter will start off with a bang as we head south to play Liberty and FGCU over the MLK weekend in Ft. Myers," said Mauntler. "This will be an invaluable experience playing outdoor tennis so early in January. We have some more challenges in the non-conference season, including Cincinnati and West Virginia before we head to the West Coast to play UC-Riverside and Cal St Fullerton outside in Southern California. This spring training trip is always a highlight for the team. It's so important to play outside and have that team bonding and culture building right before the MAC season begins."

Mid-American Conference play starts on March 20 on the road at Eastern Michigan. Toledo will play Bowling Green, Buffalo and Miami twice while opposing Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Western Michigan just once.

"The MAC is deep, as usual, and we will look to pick up right where we left off last April," said Mauntler. "Returning the entire team is exciting as they gained unbelievable experience last spring. Winning six 4-3 matches during the MAC season showed how well this group thrives under pressure, and ending the season with nine MAC wins in a row was record breaking. The team isn't satisfied yet. They know we have unfinished business. I look for Cassie and Sloane to lead by example at the top of the lineup again. What really made this team special last year was our depth and ability to win at all spots in the lineup.  We clinched many of our matches at No. 4 and No. 5 singles. The players have so much confidence in each and every one of their teammates."

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