Bulldogs open spring season on Sunday at UMass

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's tennis team opens its 2018 spring season on Sunday when it travels to Amherst, Massachusetts, to face the University of Massachusetts.

The Particulars

Opponent: UMass

Date: Sunday, Jan. 28 | 12:30 p.m.

Location: Bay Road Tennis Club (Amherst, Mass.)

Coach Cilli's Thoughts

"We always love kicking off the season, especially this year with new faces in the lineup. We will be relying on our four seniors to lead our underclassmen through this season. We are really looking forward to beginning the competitive part our season under their leadership."

Series History

• UMass owns a 6-0 lead in the all-time series between the two schools.
• Bryant and UMass first met during the 2010-11 season and met every year until 2015-16. They did not face each other last year.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• The Bulldogs are opening their spring schedule after competing in three events and two dual matches during the fall. Bryant defeated URI and was up 3-0 on Monmouth before rain forced the match to unfinished.
• Senior Stefanie Arroyo (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) and freshman Gabrielle Bergeron (Quebec, Canada) each won three matches during the fall. Arroyo went 3-2, while Bergeron went 3-1.
• Senior Linnea Sjoberg (Stockholm, Sweden) advanced to the round of 32 at the ITAs, becoming just the second women's tennis player in DI program history to accomplish the feat.
• Sjoberg and freshman Caterina Luisa Rokke (Oslo, Norway) were Bryant's most used doubles tandem, posting a 2-2 record in the fall.
• Bryant returns four All-NEC selections from last spring. Arroyo was named All-NEC First Team at No. 5 singles, while Sjoberg earned second team honors at No. 2 singles.
• Seniors Nina Luiggi (Nottingham, England) and Ashanti Campfield (Stratford, Conn.) were All-NEC First Team selections at No. 2 doubles, while Luiggi also earned second team honors at No. 4 singles.

Scouting the Minutewomen

• UMass opened its spring with an exhibition match against Providence College last weekend. The Minutewomen will play their first official match of the spring on Saturday at Boston College.
• The Minutewomen won the Atlantic 10 title in 2017 and competed in the NCAA Tournament. It was their first conference title since 2001.
• UMass returns three all-conference selections from 2017, including reigning A-10 Rookie of the Year, Janja Kovacevic.
• All-A10 First Team selection Ruth Crawford became just the second player in UMass history to reach the quarterfinal round of the ITAs this fall.