Women's Tennis | 4/1/2016 7:34:00 PM

 
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern women's tennis team plays their final two home matches this weekend against UL Monroe and Savannah State. The Eagles play their only home conference match against ULM on Saturday, which has been moved to 2 p.m. due to weather and then will turn around to face Savannah State on Sunday at noon.
 
"I'm excited to play both teams this weekend," senior Francisca Norregaard said. "They're good teams so we need to step up and use our past successes to beat them."
 
For Norregaard and fellow senior Mary Phillips Smith, this weekend will be extra meaningful as Sunday marks both their Senior Day celebration and their final GATA Game.
 
"It's definitely a bittersweet feeling," Smith said. "I have loved every moment and couldn't be more grateful for the incredible opportunity to play tennis at Georgia Southern. The memories and friendships I've made here will last a lifetime."
 
"As far as this being the last weekend playing at home, I am sad to see this chapter coming to an end. But at the same time I'm very happy with everything I've experienced and the relationships I've made over the years," Norregaard added. "I couldn't imagine any other way of doing college. It's definitely the best decision I've made to come here to Georgia southern and go to school and play tennis at the same time."
 
The two seniors have combined to play a total of 132 matches over their careers, both seeing action since freshman year. Smith holds the second-best dual match record this season, winning nine of 12 singles matches. Norregaard, one the other hand, has tallied eight wins so far.
 
In doubles, Norregaard has primarily played at line two, going 6-3 at that position, while Smith has mostly played at the No.3 spot where she holds a 5-2 record.
 
This weekend, the two continue to keep up their strong play to add two more wins to the team's overall record of 9-7.
 
"I think it's a great weekend to put everything together from this season and play our best," Smith said.
 
The Warhawks hold a 10-3 record and have gone 1-2 in Sun Belt play topping UL Lafayette, but losing to Texas State and Troy. The only other loss for ULM came from Mercer the same weekend that they fell to Troy. The SSU Tigers on the other hand, have gone winless this season losing 19 straight matches.
 
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