After enjoying the most successful season in school history a year ago, the Troy State women’s tennis team will look to improve on its success in 2002.

The Lady Trojans won 18 matches last year to tie the school record which was set in 2000. In addition to the impressive record, the Lady trojans also advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun conference tournament before being ousted by Florida Atlantic. They ended the year with the best conference record in school history at 6-1.

The Lady Trojans were ranked as high as No. 59 during the season.

This years squad’s major advantage is experience. The team has four seniors who have been at Troy State all four years.

"Having four seniors on the team is wonderful," TSU head coach Iain Pound said. "You know that those girls have a lot of leader ship in them. Even some of the sophomores are becoming great leaders."

The team also returns three sophomores from last year’s team.

The newcomer to this year’s team is freshman Mariana Melo from Cagua, Venezuela.

Sophomore Luisa Lopez will play at the No. 1 spot. She had a very impressive fall going 8-1 in singles play. She won two tournaments this year.

"Luisa is a fighter she never gives any points to the opposition," Pound said. "She outlasts her opponents with her superior fitness and excellent mental game."

Playing at the No. 2 spot will be sophomore Carolina Aravena. After playing at No. 1 all of last season she has struggled a little in the fall with a 4-4 singles record.

Senior Jayne Hutchinson will play at the No. 3 spot. Hutchinson completed the fall with a 2-5 singles record.

Playing at the No. 4 spot will be senior Sally Linden. Linden posted a 4-6 fall record, winning the consolation bracket of the Troy State Collegiate.

Senior Talia Flores will play at the No. 5 spot and sophomore Laura Alarcon will play at the No. 6 spot.

The strong point for the Lady Trojans will again be doubles. The team won the doubles point 15 out of possible 21 chances last year.

Hutchinson and Linden will play at the No. 1 doubles spot this year. in the fall they posted a 7-2 record, winning the Troy State Collegiate.

Playing at the No. 2 spot will be Aravena and Flores. Last year the team combined for a 22-10 record.

And at the No. 3 spot will be Alarcon and Lopez. The duo combined for a school record 17-2 record last year.

"This team could possibly be the best team to ever come through Troy State," Pound said. "They have a lot of experience and a nice mix of talent. They are capable of achieving great things."