WACO, Texas – The McNeese Cowgirl tennis squad will kick off the 2020 spring season on Sunday when it takes on Georgia State at 10 a.m. at the Baylor Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center and will follow that with a 11 a.m. match on Monday against the Baylor Bears.
The Cowgirls are coming off an 11-10 2019 campaign under then-first year head coach
Giorgia Pozzan. McNeese returns four players from last year's team that posted a 6-5 Southland Conference mark and qualified for the postseason tournament were it narrowly fell to Central Arkansas in the first round.
"This season will be much tougher than the previous one as we continue our new trend to take on Power 5 schools," said Pozzan. "Playing schools like Baylor, Texas A&M, SMU, etc. will help us prepare for conference play. I expect to see a lot of growth from the team, especially on the mental side of the game.
"Throughout the fall, we have continuously challenged our players during practice, workouts, and tournaments so hopefully we will be able to see the product of that during every dual match we play this spring. The expectation for McNeese tennis is to be the tougher team to beat, both in and out of conference."
Pozzan is counting on her two seniors to take the reigns of the team.
"This year we have two seniors on the team, Marija (Mastilovic) and Estela (Carra). I do expect them both to take on some leadership. They have been playing for me for the past year and half so they know what kind of culture is expected out of each player and what the standard is for McNeese tennis. I also think our transfer Matilde (Mulatero) will have a big impact this season. She's a natural leader-by-example so she will definitely help not only keeping the standard but also showing what it looks like, day in and day out."
Baylor (9-21 last season) defeated Georgia State 7-0 on Friday to open its season. It was also the opener for Georgia State who finished 11-13 last year.
Here's a look at the Cowgirl players:
Marija Mastilovic: a senior who will bring three years of experience to the team. She has great composure and is able to go toe to toe with the best talent in college tennis. Big hitter from the baseline, Marija is able to win lots of points with her aggressive game.
Estela Carra Cueva: a senior as well who has been at McNeese since her freshman year. She also brings experience and maturity, especially when it comes to help out the underclass. She has been struggling with injuries the past few months, but it looks like she will be ready to go in the next few weeks.
Matilde Mulatero: one of the two new additions to the team. Mulatero transferred out of Marshall University. She's a sophomore who has already become a key player within the team. She brings outstanding work ethic and great energy. She pushes herself and everyone around her to be better and that's a weapon she will use on the court. She's a strong, athletic player with the propensity for the net and will have a great deal of success this season.
Carlotta Romito: a sophomore entering her second spring season. Like Matilde, she also has a propensity for the net. She is a fighter who will work for each and every ball she strikes. She has grown a lot during her freshman year so I am confident she will bring that experience into every match she plays.
Sofia San Jose Moreno: a junior who comes in with experience on this team. She displays excellent work ethic and she is the kind of player who is always trying to improve and to sharpen her skills. Her fitness and athleticism give her the edge on many opponents she faces. She has played a key role in our success in doubles play and this season she will continue to do so in both doubles and singles.
Hanna Blinouskaya: our latest addition and only true freshman on the team. Hanna is one of the players who works the hardest to better her game. She has extremely high standards for herself, which is something that will help the team go above and beyond. She is adjusting quite well to the college life and to the team setting so I am very excited to see what she has in store this spring.
