KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan women's tennis team will open its 2020 dual season schedule tomorrow by hosting Oakland at the West Hills Athletic Club at 1 p.m. The Broncos will then host Cleveland State on Monday at 1 p.m. in Kalamazoo. 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland went 14-9 last year, dropping just two conference regular season matches to finish third in the Horizon League. They fell to Cleveland State in the conference semifinals in West Lafayette, Ind. 

The Golden Grizzlies are led by junior's Ava Thielman and Darya Maltseva. Thielman was named the 2019 Horizon League Player of the Year, while Maltseva picked up Second Team honors. The Broncos have never dropped a dual match to Oakland and defeated the Golden Grizzlies 6-1 last season in Kalamazoo. 

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State posted a 16-9 overall record in 2019, advancing to the Horizon League Tournament final against UIC. The Vikings were picked to finish second in the conference preseason poll for 2020.

Junior Klara Mrcela went 10-8 overall in conference play last season, earning her All-Horizon League Second Team accolades. Western Michigan last played the Vikings in 2017, earning a 5-2 win on the road. 

2019 AT-A-GLANCE
The Broncos ended 2019 with an overall record of 12-11, going 4-3 in conference play to place tied for third with Ball State in the final MAC standings. Melina Lyubomirova and current student assistant coach Denise Azcui earned All-MAC honors for their senior year efforts. Western Michigan has recorded double-digit victories in 40 consecutive campaigns. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
Head coach Ryan Tomlinson is entering his 5th season at the helm of the Bronco women's tennis program and will rely on a large sophomore class led by Femke Tjon-A-Joe and Kristina Tiraspolsky. Tjon-A-Joe went 29-14 overall during the 2019 dual campaign, while Tirsaspolsky recorded a winning singles record in her first MAC season. Kaitlyn Rogosch, Elizabeth Trupp and Taylor Smith combined for 23 total victories during the Fall 2019 schedule.

The Broncos will also look to Gabriela Slavova for leadership as the lone senior on the nine-athlete roster, as well as junior's Valerie Riegraf and Jeryn Jack. Freshman Lindsey Zieglar picked up her first of four singles wins as a Bronco at the Hoosier Classic in September of last year. Western Michigan was picked to finish fifth in the 2020 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released on Thursday. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will travel to Chicago on Friday, January 24 for a non-conference contest against DePaul at 8 p.m. ET. 

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