(LEBANON, Ill. – Oct. 2) - The McKendree University women's tennis team is set to kick off their 2020-2021 season on Sunday, Oct. 4, against Quincy University.
 
The Bearcats are coming off a shorted 2019-2020 season following the cancelation from the COVID-19 pandemic. The women finished with two hard fought wins. This weekend's match will be the first time the Bearcats have taken the court sense Mar.12, when they squared off against the University of Findley.
 
Head Coach Todd Tucker's squad will relay heavily on their returning team members, including Viola Cipirani. The sophomore finished this last season with four wins in singles play and picked up another four wins in doubles play.
 
Fellow returner Mariana Caicedo Mora (Cúcuta, Colombia/American International School of Mallorca) also will hope to play a big role this year. Caicedo Mora finished last season amassing five wins in singles competition, while adding another four wins in doubles play.
 
Joining the retunes this season are five new faces, who hope to make an immediate impact to the program. Freshman Bailey Grigg (Marine, IL/Triad High School) earned 106 wins during her high school career, with 60 of those wins coming in doubles competition. Freshman Emily Kettering (Bloomington, IL/Normal Community West High School) helped lead her high school to their first-ever women's tennis conference title in school history.
 
The Bearcats are scheduled to take the court at 9:00 AM.