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FULLERTON, Calif. --- The Cal State Fullerton women's tennis team begins its season on Saturday, hosting Nevada at 11 a.m. at Titan Tennis Courts.

Admission to all Titan tennis matches at Titan Tennis Courts is FREE.

Nevada: Saturday, Jan. 21 | 11:00 a.m. | Titan Tennis Courts (Fullerton, Calif.)

CSF IN THE RANKINGS: Team: None | Singles: None | Doubles: None
NEV IN THE RANKINGS: Team: NA | Singles: No. 66 Claudia Herrero Garcia, No. 73 Sheila Morales-Hidalgo | Doubles: No. 55 Carlijn Ketting/Claudia Herrero Garcia

SEASON PREVIEW
Following its most successful season in program history, Cal State Fullerton returns its entire lineup for 2017.

The group will be led by seniors Alexis Valenzuela and Camille De Leaon along with fellow upper classman junior Danielle Pham. The Titans, who welcomed sophomore Luxizi Meng in the offseason, boast a five-member sophomore class to fill out the lineup card.

 "This year's team has more experience," fourth-year head coach Dianne Matias said. "We have been through a whole season together, and the team understands what the year is going to be about.  Our student-athletes know what it is like to be in tough matches and situations, and we are more equipped for what is in front of us than last year. We are also preparing differently. We have spent more time with our sports psychologist in order to deal with all aspects of the mental game and dealing with adversity. Based on last year's results, we know what we are capable of, so our expectations are different this year, and we are hoping to achieve more."

De Leon and Valenzuela have already hit major milestones this season. The doubles duo was rated 31st in the nation by the 2016 Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Women's Division I Preseason Rankings on Sept. 14.
The senior pair was also selected to participate in the 2016 Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships, and in addition, the pair advanced to the ITA West Regional final in October.

"Camille and Alexis have played an integral part in the building of our program over the last four years," Matias said. "Both players have a strong work ethic, they set the standard in practice, they lead by example, and they have helped change the culture of our team. They are mentally tough, smart, and very coachable players. They have been very consistent for us over the last few years.  Off the court, they are dependable and they are leaders. They are well liked, friendly, and approachable by their teammates. They're on top of their academics all the time."

In 2016, De Leon and Valenzuela were the first No. 1 Titan doubles team to reach 14 dual victories and six Big West Conference victories since prior to 2001.
In addition, the team of De Leon and Valenzuela was just the second Titan pair in program history to receive Big West Conference First Team accolades following Roseanne Alva and Kelli Moore in 1991.

"Some of things that have led to their success in doubles is that they keep things simple," Matias said. "They are very consistent, they work very well as a team, they communicate, they make adjustments when needed, and they fight for the tough points. These are some good ingredients for a top doubles team."

In singles action, Valenzuela, a three-time Big West Conference Singles First Team selection, has a career singles record of 40-14. De Leon, a three-time Big West doubles honoree, boasts a career singles mark of 42-25.

But last year's team would not have reached its potential without its rookie class. The freshmen combined for a singles record of 40-27, and now sophomores, the group is even more prepared for the season ahead.

"Our sophomore class came in last year very mature and with an accomplished junior background, so I didn't necessarily think of them as underclassmen," Matias said. "They work hard every day at practice, they listen to the coaches, they look to get better every day, and more importantly they look to make the team better. There's still a lot more work to do but I'm excited about their progress."

SEASON OPENERS
Dating back to 1981, Cal State Fullerton boasts a record of 9-24 in season openers (records are missing for 1983, 1997 and 2000). The Titans are 6-10 at home in season openers and 3-14 on the road.  Fullerton has won its last two season openers.

FALL 2016
Highlights from the fall season:
- The doubles team of Camille De Leon and Alexis Valenzuela was rated 31st in the nation by the 2016 Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Women's Division I Preseason Rankings on Sept. 14.
- De Leon and Valenzuela were also selected to participate in the 2016 Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships
- Camille De Leon and Alexis Valenzuela defeated UC Santa Barbara's eighth-ranked Palina Dubavets and Stefani Stojic, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 10-7, on Oct. 23 in the ITA West Regional doubles semifinal at Barnes Tennis Center, and advanced to the final.

2016 SEASON RECAP
Cal State Fullerton women's tennis team produced its best season in the history of the program in 2016.
The Titans (17-6, 6-2 BWC) set program records for most wins in a single season (17), most Big West Conference victories (6), and best conference finish (3rd) in Titan history.
Matias was named the 2016 Women's Tennis Big West Conference Coach of the Year – just the second time a Titan coach has earned the honor as her youthful roster produced a remarkable year.
Cal State Fullerton recorded its first winning season since 2004, and its first ever winning record in conference play, while the team's overall winning percentage (.739) and league winning percentage (.750) were also program bests.
Fullerton ended the season with an 89-45 (.664) record in singles play and a 37-16 (.698) mark in doubles action, both program records.
In addition, Fullerton compiled an eight-match win streak from Feb. 3 – March 7, the longest for the program on record dating back to 1981.
The doubles team of Camille De Leon and Alexis Valenzuela finished the year ranked 56th in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Women's Rankings for doubles. Furthermore, the duo ended the year rated ninth in the Southwest Region.
As a team, the Titans were ranked at No. 67 for one week (March 8) in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Women's Rankings, believed to be the first ranking in program history.

OPPONENT NEWS & NOTES
Nevada is currently unranked as a team, but in singles action boasts No. 66 Claudia Herrero Garcia and No. 73 Sheila Morales-Hidalgo, as well as, the 55^th-ranked doubles team in the country of Carlijn Ketting and  Herrero Garcia.
Saturday's match will also serve as the season opener for the Wolf Pack.