Utica, NY – The Utica College women's tennis team will open its season on Wednesday as its hosts Hartwick College for an Empire 8 matchup. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
 
2017 Season Recap: Last year UC finished with a record of 3-8 overall and went 1-7 in conference play. The team defeated Alfred University, 5-4, at home for its only E8 conference win of the season. Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) earned a match point in single play, while the duo of Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Madeline McIlnay (York, PA/York Suburban) stole a match point in doubles. The other two wins came against SUNY Delhi, as the Pioneers took care of business on the road and at home against the Broncos.
 
2018 Season Layout: The Pioneers are opening the year with back-to-back conference matches against Hartwick at home then Stevens on the road Saturday. The team will then play three of its next four contests at home. On September 22^nd UC heads to Nazareth before traveling to take on St. John Fisher on the 26^th. The final E8 match of the season is on October 6^th, at home against Houghton College before the regular season closes up on the 7^th at Oswego State.
 
New Faces: Only one new player was added to the roster in the offseason for UC. Tanya Kuts (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) is the lone newcomer for this 2018 season.
 
Returners: The majority of this year's squad is returning from last fall with four seniors to help lead the way. Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg), Christa Pham (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor), Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), and Rebecca Bruce (St. Johnsville, NY/Oppenheim-Ephatah-St. Johnsville) make up the 2018 senior class for the women's tennis team. Pieros is coming off of the 2017 season in which she was awarded Second Team All-Conference in doubles competition. Other returners include juniors Madeline McIlnay (York, PA/York Suburban), Bianca Bochkaus, and sophomore Elma Selimovic (Utica, NY/Proctor).
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers head out to Hoboken, NJ on Saturday for an E8 matchup with Stevens. The match is set to begin at 12 p.m.