The State University of New York at New Paltz women's tennis team started its season off on a high note last weekend with a 5-0 conference win over SUNY Cortland. The Hawks were supposed to play SUNY Oneonta as well, but the weather got in their way.
 
The Hawks now prepare to face off against another SUNYAC opponent in Plattsburgh State on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and then a non-conference match up against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
 
Earlier this week Carol Tyson and Victoria Zezula were named the SUNYAC Doubles Team of the Week after their 8-3 victory at first doubles. Zezula was impressed with the team's ability to face adversity with the weather.
 
"We had to wait awhile and it was on and off, but each time we got on the court we kept the momentum," said Zezula.
 
Head coach Rob Bruley hopes to stay unbeaten in the conference and pull out the win against a crafty Cardinals team. "We're not going to see a lot of pace so we have to be careful," said Bruley. "We have to generate our own pace and when you do that you can hit over hit. I think it's a matter of playing within ourselves and I know it sounds like common sense, but keep the ball in the court."
 
Zezula echoes Bruley's sentiment on not trying to do too much with the ball and playing their own game. "I feel like just staying confident and playing our game is what's going to win us the match," said Zezula.
 
RPI has been a tough test for SUNY New Paltz in previous years, but Bruley and the Hawks are excited for the challenge and believe it will help the team moving forward in the season.
 
"RPI will be a totally different matter, there we are going to see a lot of pace," said Bruley. "I'm really happy this match has come along when it has because we need to be challenged. The weather hasn't been cooperative for us so it's been tough to get some matches going and we're at that point where we need to play and get game time."
 
This weekend's match ups for the Hawks are their only home games of the season, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Follow @nphawks on Twitter for live updates and highlights.