TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler women's tennis team will take part in the program's first ever Lone Star Conference home matches with a Friday match at 2 p.m. against UAFS and a Saturday match at 10 a.m. against Cameron.
 
Last season came to an end prior to the Lone Star Conference schedule getting started due to the COVID-19 pandemic, setting the stage for the Patriots to finally get out on their home court at the Summers Tennis Center with home Lone Star Conference matches this weekend. The Patriots handily defeated Northeastern State back on Mar. 16 in the first home match of the 2021 schedule, and will look to earn the program's first official Lone Star Conference victory on Friday afternoon against UAFS.
 
TIME TO GET SETTLED IN
 
UT Tyler followed up that win on their home court against Northeastern State with the program's first ever official Lone Star Conference match nearly two years in the making after the COVID-shortened 2020 season came to an end prior to Lone Star Conference play beginning. The Patriots struggled in that first Lone Star Conference match last Saturday, falling by a 7-0 final to St. Mary's in San Antonio.
 
With the jitters of the first conference match behind them and strong momentum generated from a 7-2 non-conference record to open the 2021 season, the Patriots should be in a good spot to perform well in their first LSC matches on their home court this weekend.
 
A LOOK AT THE RECORDS
 
Akshaya Suresh, Leony Deutschmann and Tanvikhaa Saravanan have all led the way throughout the 2021 season in singles matches for the Patriots. Suresh has been particularly impressive for UT Tyler, stringing together six straight wins for the Patriots prior to last Saturday's loss against St. Mary's to post a record of 6-2 in singles matches so far this spring.
 
Deutschmann is 5-3 this spring, kicking off her 2021 campaign with three straight wins in non-conference competition, while Saravanan has picked up four wins of her own.
 
TOP DOUBLES SQUAD
 
Suresh and partner Chloe Dix have been the Patriot's most consistent doubles option throughout the spring semester, and have worked together to produce a record of 7-3 in doubles matches. The duo have won three straight matches entering this weekend's matches with UAFS and Cameron, and will be relied upon once again to work towards securing much-needed points in the match for the team in pursuit of the team's first ever Lone Star Conference win.