IRVINE, Calif. – The wait is over for the UC Irvine women's tennis team which is set to open the 2021 season with a match Friday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. The Anteaters will be play San Jose State at Anteater Tennis Complex. UCI was last in action in March 2020 before the remainder of the season was canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Per state, local, and university guidelines, the season will begin without spectators in attendance. The Anteater Tennis Complex will be closed to the public.

EXCITED TO RETURN!
"I'm so excited to play our first match this Friday! We have a strong team this year and I'm looking forward to being on court with my girls and competing together. I am thankful for the opportunity to play again and represent UCI. Zot Zot Zot!" – Arianna Tilbury

"It was really tough having our last season cut so short so I'm super grateful for the opportunity to compete and have a season this year. There's never a dull moment being on the court with my amazing teammates & we're all so pumped for our first match!" – Jessica Tsukiji

"We're very excited to start our season, it's been awhile since we've competed, but I think UCI athletics has done a good job of letting us practice on campus and keeping us safe during these tough times. We're ready to go. GO EATERZ!!" – Halla Alajeely

STORYLINES
- UCI concluded the shortened 2020 season 5-7 overall and 0-2 in conference action
- Jessica Tsukiji posted the top singles dual-match record in 2020 at 5-1. Overall, she was 8-5 in singles. Tsukiji won both Big West Conference matches that were played
- Jenna Schlatter returns for her sophomore season after a strong freshman debut. She went 5-2 during the dual-match season
- Alyssia Fossorier shined in fall competition in 2019, winning the singles main draw championship at the SDSU Fall Classic II. She earned 10 wins during the fall season
- Fossorier will look to replace her doubles partner, Stephanie Nguyen, lost to graduation. The duo earned a 4-2 record including 2-0 BWC record in doubles last season
- Tsukiji is UCI's only returning All-Big West player
- In total, UCI returns 10 players from last year's squad
- The Anteaters will have three new faces in the lineup
- Head coach Elizabeth Ferris returns for her fifth season at the helm
- UCI was named an ITA All-Academic Team for the third straight year in 2020 and had six players earn scholar-athlete honors, including Halla Alajeely, Dasee Carter, Shreya Pavani and Jessica Tsukiji

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE
- San Jose State returns five players from last year's squad and added three more to the 2021 roster
- Head coach Chad Skorupa returns for his sixth season at the helm

NEW FACES
Freshmen Emily Fowler, Mia Totah and Raquel Pareja all enter their first seasons with the 'Eaters. Fowler and Pareja hail from San Diego while Totah comes to UCI from Aptos.

SUMMER CIRCUIT
Freshman Mia Totah competed in two ITA Summer Circuit events and advanced to the final round in both tournaments.

UP NEXT
Check ucirvinesports.com for the latest updates, schedules and results