Women’s Tennis hosts Trailblazer Invitational to open spring schedule

The Dixie State women's tennis team officially opens its spring schedule this weekend and will host the Trailblazer Invitational at the DSU Tennis Courts.

The Trailblazer Invite will feature five women's teams, four men's teams, and a total of nine matches played between Friday and Sunday.

Dixie State (3-3) will play a total of three matches, beginning with a showdown against Colorado Mesa on Friday at 1:45 p.m. DSU is currently scheduled to take on Western New Mexico on Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by its final match of the weekend vs. Holy Names on Sunday at 9 a.m. However, with rain in the forecast for Saturday, the match against WNMU could be moved to Sunday at Noon, following the match vs. HNU.

ALL-TIME IN THE TRAILBLAZER INVITATIONAL: The 2019-20 edition of the Dixie State Trailblazer Invitational marks the second time DSU has hosted the event. The Trailblazers played to a 2-1 record in last year's event, earning wins over Colorado Mesa and Western New Mexico with a loss to Stanislaus State.

ALL-TIME VS. COLORADO MESA: Friday's match marks the 23rd meeting between Dixie State and Colorado Mesa. CMU won 12 of the first 13 matchups between the two schools. Since then, DSU has rattled off seven wins in the last nine matchups, including four victories over CMU during the 2018-19 season. The Mavericks hold a 14-8 all-time series lead over the Trailblazers.

ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN NEW MEXICO: Saturday's match marks the sixth meeting between Dixie State and Western New Mexico. The teams first met on Feb. 16, 2008, in Glendale, Arizona, with the Trailblazers claiming a 6-2 win. The Mustangs responded in 2010 with a 5-4 victory. Since then, DSU has won the last three matchups, including a 6-1 triumph during last year's Trailblazer Invitational, to build a 4-1 series lead.

ALL-TIME VS. HOLY NAMES: Sunday's match marks the ninth meeting between Dixie State and Holy Names. The teams first met on March 11, 2013, as DSU claimed a 6-3 victory in St. George. The Trailblazers earned an 8-1 win a month later in Oakland before Holy Names won the next four matchups. Since then, the Trailblazers have won the last two matchups to tie the overall series at 2-2.

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State played to a 3-3 record during its six-match fall schedule. The Trailblazers opened the 2019-20 season with a 2-2 record at CSU-Pueblo on September 13-14. DSU earned a split on both days, defeating CSU-Pueblo on Friday and Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday. Dixie State then closed the fall with a 5-2 loss to Colorado Mesa and a 7-0 win over Colorado College Grand Junction.

2019 RMAC CHAMPS: The Trailblazers continue their first season since clinching their first conference championship in program history in April 2019. Dixie State will play an independent schedule during the 2019-20 season after the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dropped women's tennis as a sponsored sport.

SPRING 2020 ROSTER: Two players from the 2019 RMAC Championship squad return for the spring portion of the 2020 schedule, including senior Kyra Harames and sophomore Juliana Honczaruk.

Harames earned first team All-RMAC honors last season, logging a 12-4 record in singles play and a 10-6 mark in doubles play. Honczaruk turned in a sensational freshman season, playing to a 7-1 mark in singles play with a 6-7 record in doubles play.

Sophomore Sabrina Longson re-joins the team for the spring portion of the schedule. Longson competed as a freshman during the 2017-18 season, posting a 10-9 record in both singles and doubles play.

Five freshmen return for the spring season, including Alexandra Hildreth, Briee Jolliff, Katelyn Longson, Anna Peterson, and Emma Templeman.

COACHING STAFF: Eric Pelton is currently in his 14th season as the DSU women's tennis head coach. Pelton has been with the program since the sport was added for the 2006-07 season. Pelton is joined again by assistant coach Steve Bui (4th Season).

UP NEXT: Dixie State will host Southern Utah in an exhibition match on March 10 before traveling to Colorado for three matches later in the month.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sabrina Longson: 5' 8"; Freshman

Kyra Harames: 5' 4"; Junior

Juliana Honczaruk: Freshman

Alexandra Hildreth: Freshman

Briee Jolliff: Freshman

Katelyn Longson: Freshman

Anna Peterson: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Templeman: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sabrina Longson
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Kyra Harames
: 5' 4"; Junior

Juliana Honczaruk
: Freshman

Alexandra Hildreth
: Freshman

Briee Jolliff
: Freshman

Katelyn Longson
: Freshman

Anna Peterson
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Templeman
: 5' 8"; Freshman