The Huskies begin the 2023 trip on Friday in Hawaii

THIS WEEK IN WOMEN’S HUSKIES TENNIS

Washington vs. San Jose State | Honolulu, Hawaii | No live scores

Saturday, January 21, 1:00 PM PT

Washington in Hawaii | Honolulu, Hawaii | No live scores

SEATTLE — The much-anticipated 2023 season is set for first swings this Friday for the Huskies in Hawaii. The coach followed through the 2022 season, qualifying for the ITA National Team Indoor and NCAA Championships, but was handcuffed by injuries. Robin Stephenson and the full-strength Huskies are looking not only to get back to those team championship events, but to make a run.

It all starts on Friday at 1:00 PM for the Pacific Dawgs in Honolulu as they take on the San Jose State Spartans. A day later, Washington will play host to the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine to close out the opening week of a doubleheader.

In just a few weeks, the Huskies will compete in the second straight ITA National Team Indoor Championships, this time hosting after they played their way through last year by upsetting UCLA. The Dawgs are looking to start the year strong to build momentum from 10-13. for the February presentation.

Coach Stephenson’s ninth Husky team has several new faces, but is also largely an experienced team. Two of the four newcomers are veteran transfers of former Columbia teammates Jennifer Kerr and Melissa Sakarwho have a total of 75 singles wins between them.

Freshman Erika Matsuda and the newest Dawg, a freshman enrolled in winter quarters Zehra Sukogives off a youthful spark, but the other seven Huskies are all juniors or seniors.

But as often, even experienced players are faced with new challenges. The Huskies have a new number one at the top of the league for the first time since 2019, as Vanessa Wong graduated in 2022 as the winningest husky in history with 112 singles wins. UW also graduated a four-year starter Nika Zupancic and a consistent contributor Zoey Weil as well. The move of Wong and Zupancic from the top half of the lineup means the Dawgs are on the rise.

Fortunately, there is a great mix to choose from. Junior by Sarah-Maude Fort He had been involved last spring and went 14-3 in singles to earn All-Pac-12 honors before missing the final six matches with a foot injury. Last year, Fortin ranked as high as 88th and started this fall in 92nd place.

Five years older Hikaru Sato stepped up his game in his first year as a Dawg, starting every match last year and going 14-7 in duals, including 4-0 at No. 3 and 9-5 at No. 4. He finished last spring with four. back-to-back wins, including a win over ranked opponent Baylor in an NCAA first-round matchup.

Astrid Olsen is slated to make a big impact this season after being limited to just one game in 2022. Olsen had a strong fall campaign and will only get better as he plays each week. Washington is also getting older Ashley Chang and junior Yolanda Lin, who got valuable playing time last spring. Lin had two huge wins at No. 6 singles last year in back-to-back 4-3 road wins for the Huskies at Arizona State and Arizona.

A healthy, hungry Husky team is ready to pursue greatness this spring.