TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's tennis team will open their spring slate on Saturday, Jan. 24 against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival James Madison University. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Navy's Tose Family Tennis Center in Annapolis, Md.
 
"We're looking forward to this match to open the spring season," Head Coach Doug Neagle said. "It's rare we open up with a conference rival. They have a new coach and we have so many freshmen so the dynamic of the match will be different than in the past."
 
The Tigers are back in action for the first time since mid-October when freshmen Lucy Williams and Nicole Shakhnazarova participated in the 2014 Division I Atlantic Regional Championships. The duo participated in singles play at the championships and earned a doubles victory before falling to the No. 8 pairing from Pittsburgh, 8-7 (5).
 
Williams earned eight singles victories during the fall including four wins at the Towson Tiger Classic to open her collegiate career.
 
Shakhnazarova won the 'B' singles flight at Navy's Blue & Gold Invitational in early October and posted a singles victory against Mount St. Mary's to help the Tigers win their first dual match of the 2014-15 season. Towson won all six of its singles matches in straight sets against Mount St. Mary's.
 
Towson had strong performances during the fall portion of its schedule, especially during invitational play. Freshman Barbora Vasilkova reached the championship match for the 'C' singles flight at Navy's Blue & Gold Invitational. She also partnered with senior Cailey Easdale to win the 'B 1' doubles flight.
 
At the Bill & Sandra Moore Invitational, hosted by Navy, the Tigers earned three singles victories and four in doubles play.
 
Towson hosted its annual Tiger Classic to open the season, winning 12 singles matches and four doubles matches against the five participating schools.
 
The Tigers will continue in action when they travel to George Washington for a dual-match beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.