The Dixie State women's tennis team hits the road this week for its first and only matches of the fall season. The Red Storm travel to Grand Junction, Colo., for a total of four matches in three days, beginning with a 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon match against host Colorado Mesa. DSU will play two matches on Friday, taking on Colorado Christian at 8 a.m., and Colorado State-Pueblo at 2:30 p.m. The Storm wrap up their four-match trip on Saturday in an 8 a.m. matchup with Metro State-Denver.

"Being able to get a preview in the fall is really nice," Head Coach Eric Pelton said. "It gives us a chance, especially for the new girls, to get our feet wet. Then we've got the rest of the fall and the first part of spring to build on and to look forward to. They get an idea of what to expect before we get into our championship season in the spring."

Dixie State returns four players from last year's squad and looks to build on a 6-9 finish last season. Juniors Laura Hartle (Salt Lake City, Utah/East HS), Kaylee Tarver (Wrightwood, Calif./Serrano HS) and Samantha Yacano (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West HS) return alongside sophomore Karolin Kukaras (Heidelberg, Germany/Internationale Gesamtschule Heidelberg) to lead the way.

 
Hartle finished the 2014-2015 campaign with a 6-5 overall singles record and posted a 5-7 mark in doubles play. Kukaras earned third team all-PacWest honors last year, posting a 5-6 overall singles record and a 5-7 mark in doubles play. Tarver and Yacano did not compete last year, but are expected to contribute this season.
 
Joining the team this year are freshman newcomers Jenna Fosdick (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon HS) and Lacey Hancock (St. George, Utah/Pine View HS). Fosdick earned two varsity tennis letters at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah. Hancock was a four-time region and State 3A champion at Pine View High School in St. George.