NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Facing opposing competition for the first time in over a year, the Christopher Newport women's tennis team will host three matches to open the 2021 schedule this weekend, starting with a Friday afternoon bout against Division I Norfolk State. The Captains will then take on St. Mary's College of Maryland and Sweet Briar College on Saturday to wrap up the busy slate. 

Christopher Newport last competed on March 6, 2020 against the University of Redlands, marking the last match before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The season concluded with a 2-7 record but the overall mark was not indicative of how competitive the Captains were during the 2020 campaign. One of those losses came by a final score of 5-4 against No. 21 Caltech as the then-30th ranked Captains battled to extra tennis in four singles and two doubles matches in the tightly-contested match. 

This year, the Captains will need to replace NCAA National Qualifier Johanna Ranta-aho, who despite the abbreviated senior season, still became just the second Captain to eclipse 60 career singles victories while her 37 wins at the No. 1 position also stand second in program history. She and fellow senior Olivia Reed were nationally ranked in doubles last season, creating another gap in the starting lineup in 2021. 

That said, head coach David Weiner did go out and recruit one of the top recruiting classes in the nation according to TennisRecruiting.net, designating CNU's incoming freshmen as the 22nd-ranked class. There are seven rookies ready to battle for a spot in the Captains' starting lineup including a pair of standout three-star players according to TennisRecruiting.net in Tessa Trate and Mia Linam. 

In addition to the strong freshman players, the Captains also return six veterans ready to vie for their spot in the rotation as well. Team captain and lone senior Kara Ferner headlines the returning group alongside a quartet of juniors with a bevy of playing experience already. Ana Clara Borga, Lucy Davis, Reagan Delp, and Amanda Yermal make up the third-year class while Kendra Womack is the lone sophomore on this year's roster. 

The first match of the season is scheduled against Division I Norfolk State on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. CNU will then take on St. Mary's (Md.) at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday followed by a 2:00 p.m. start against the Vixens of Sweet Briar.