ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women's tennis team begins its 2021 season this weekend as they play host to two matches at the indoor courts at Genesis Health Club in St. Joseph.  The Griffons entertain Augustana Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and then play Arkansas Tech at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
 
Olaya Garrido-Rivas begins her second season as head coach at MWSU as they went 6-5 during her first season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Garrido-Rivas brings back five players from her 2020 team.  Karolina Strom, Ariella Curci, Nicole Donnelly, Claudia Iglesias, Isabella MacGibbon all return from last season, and they're joined by transfer Ioanna Lathouri from Fresno Pacific and four freshmen (Anya Chavez, Kim Le, Alyssa Owens and Rhea Singh).
 
All five returning players won at least four singles matches last season with four of the five recording at least six wins.  Strom is second in Missouri Western history with 31 career singles victories.
 
The Griffons will square off against two very good opponents this weekend.  Augustana defeated MWSU last season 4-2 and they finished with a 13-0 record before the season was canceled.  Arkansas Tech is picked to finish fourth in the Great American Conference after going 6-6 last season and they defeated Missouri Western 4-1.