MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's tennis team opens its 2021 season on Sunday, Mar. 14 as it hosts Southern New Hampshire University at 1 p.m. in the Carr Activities Center.

Both squads are competing in the first game of their respective seasons. For contests held within the Carr Center due to unplayable outside courts, no fans of any kind will be admitted, including students, staff, faculty and parents.

One of the very first varsity programs offered by Saint Anselm for women, the Hawks enter their 45th season of competition and will battle the Penmen, who traditionally find themselves at the top of the NE10 standings. Southern New Hampshire has won its last 16 matches against Saint Anselm.

LIVE VIDEO of Sunday's match with the Penmen will be available via the NE10 Now network.

HAWKS NOTES

• The Hawks posted a 3-10 overall record in the fall of 2019, claiming victories over Plymouth State, Smith and American International. Then-freshman Anastasia Kapothanasis (Westbrook, Maine) led Saint Anselm with five victories between No. 2 and No. 3 singles play.
• Captains Maikah Bulpitt and Dominique Bolduc will lead a young Hawks team into the season. Bulpitt logged a 4-9 record at No. 4 singles last season and won as many matches at No. 2 doubles. Bolduc, a native of Manchester, N.H., competed primarily at No. 5 singles a year ago.
• Junior Emily Jacy played at the top doubles flight last year, winning four matches, while splitting time between No. 2 and No. 3 singles.
• The Hawks will rely on four newcomers to the roster in 2021 to fill out the rest of the lineup card. Three freshman and one sophomore are new to the team and will compete for opportunities this week heading into Sunday's showdown with the Penmen.
• Head Coach Matt Tiberii enters his second season with the program in 2021. He is a graduate of American International and is an active tennis professional at the Woburn Racquet Club and the Marcus Lewis Tennis Center.

SCOUTING THE PENMEN

• The Penmen were projected to finish third in the NE10, according to the 2021 Women's Tennis Coaches' Poll revealed on Mar. 4. Southern New Hampshire earned 91 points and the league's coaches project a finish behind top-ranked Adelphi and second-ranked Stonehill.
• Magdalena Hubickova, a native of the Czech Republic, earned NE10 Rookie of the Year honors after posting an 8-2 record in league play at the top singles flight. Isabella Andrade logged a 10-0 record against conference foes, finishing the year at 15-3 overall. Elizabeth Dwyer was a First Team All-NE10 selection after posting an 11-7 overall record at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, combined.
• As a team, the Penmen posted a 12-6 record last season. Getting off to a hot start, SNHU posted an 11-2 record in the spring before losing four of five matches to stiff competition, including a battle against No. 12-ranked Flagler. Stonehill toppled the Penmen, 4-1, in the NE10 semifinals on Oct. 25.
• Head Coach Greg Coache enters his 14th season at SNHU. He helped the Penmen post a 12-6 record last year, winning nine of its 10 conference fixtures. From 2008-18, the Penmen posted double-digit victory totals and made six appearances in the NCAA Division II postseason.