Women's Tennis Takes on Southeast Missouri and Austin Peay in Paducah, Kentucky

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following an exciting 4-3 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham to begin its 2024 campaign, the Belmont University women's tennis team returns to match action this weekend in Paducah, Kentucky. The Bruins (1-0) face former Ohio Valley Conference adversaries Southeast Missouri and Austin Peay in non-conference neutral-site matches.
 
Belmont will take on the Redhawks (0-0) Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and the Governors (0-0) Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
 
Last March, SEMO edged the Bruins 4-3 in Nashville by winning the No. 3-6 singles matches. The Redhawks are the defending OVC champions, having won each of the last two OVC Championship titles and two of the last three regular season crowns.
 
Last January, Austin Peay defeated Belmont 5-2 on neutral courts in Evansville, Indiana. The Bruins earned singles wins at the top and fourth spots courtesy of Mariia Hlahola and Viktoria Kliimand.
 
The Governors won the 2022 OVC regular season championship and captured consecutive tournament titles in 2019 and 2021. Last season was Austin Peay's first in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Governors were picked fourth in the ASUN Preseason Poll.
 
Friday's match against SEMO will be Belmont's first in 12 days as the Bruins topped UAB on Sunday, Jan. 14 inside the Ensworth Tennis Center. Against the Blazers, Belmont took the doubles point with wins at the second and third spots before junior Kliimand clinched the opening victory with a three-set triumph at No. 5 singles.
 
Hlahola at No. 1 singles and freshman Vesa Gjinaj at No. 4 singles were also victorious versus UAB, both winning in convincing fashion.
 
Last Friday's home match versus Tennessee Wesleyan was postponed to a to be determined date due to the recent winter weather that blanketed Middle Tennessee.
 
Up Next
The Bruins continue their strenuous six-match road stretch next weekend when Belmont heads to Southeastern Conference staples Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Bruins will go up against the Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi, next Saturday, Feb. 3 before facing the Bulldogs next Sunday, Feb. 4 in Starkville, Mississippi.
 
Follow Belmont women's tennis on social media – @BelmontWTennis on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontwtennis on Instagram and Belmont Women's Tennis on Facebook – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.