Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's tennis team opens up the 2021 season with a busy week, hosting three matches in three days this weekend after traveling to Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday. The Bulldogs went 6-0 in the shortened 2020 season, with a 3-0 mark in league. Wingate won every match by a 7-0 score. The 'Dogs are ranked 12th in the ITA preseason top 25.

The Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine regular season SAC titles, adding six SAC tournament championships in that time frame. Wingate has hosted each of the last two NCAA Southeast Regional Tournaments. The 'Dogs are 174-41 overall in the last 10 seasons, with a 174-30 record against Division II opponents. Wingate is 92-2 in the SAC over the last decade. The 'Dogs piled up 42 wins the previous two full seasons, the most in a two-year stretch in program history while also earning their first two NCAA Tournament hosting bids.

The Bulldogs will look to their most experienced players to step into leadership roles in their top two singles players Camilla Ciaccia and Elena Bompieri. "Camilla and Elena have stepped into that leadership role, they're kind of 1-2, interchangeable, both really stepped up in that leadership role," head coach Michael Cabana says. "They are trying to be loud at practice, get everyone on the same page."

It has been nearly a year since Wingate played its last match in March of 2020 before the season was abruptly cancelled. The Bulldogs returned in the fall, which also had its share of pauses. Wingate is now finally ready to get the season started, a month later than the normal start time. "The girls have been doing well," Cabana says. "They trained together at home while away, which is always a good thing. singles wise, it's just getting them back in game shape and getting them ready to play in some tough matches. We are trying to work on some doubles pairings, watching a lot of doubles, trying to make some adjustments. Just working on developing the relationships with the partner."

The Bulldogs have had plenty of success over the last decade, piling up 14 conference titles and hosting a pair of NCAA regionals. The expectations are no different this year. "Our goals are to win the regular season and win the tournament," Cabana says. "We have talked a lot about trusting the process. We had so many people miss the fall, we want to be able to build towards the conference tournament. This team is a little different than the men, we don't have that senior-heavy class, we have more underclassmen than seniors, so it's really about getting these younger players that experience with matches, after missing so much of the season last year, they weren't able to be put in those situations."

SINGLES

Bompieri and Ciaccia will be the top two singles players for the Bulldogs. Bompieri went 5-0 in singles play last season, with four wins at two singles and a victory at number one singles.

"Elena has got a great forehand and can really change the pace," Cabana says. "Her game is about dictating the point with that forehand.

Ciaccia was 5-0 last season after going 19-1 as a freshman to earn ITA Region Rookie of the Year honors. She was named the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch after the 2020 season. The junior has lost just one set in her Bulldog career.

"Camilla is another player with a huge weapon on the forehand side, Cabana says. "She has the ability to transition forward and finish at the net. She has the ability to be versatile in her game."

The sophomore Elena Gunfaus will play a key role in singles for the Bulldogs, after going 3-0 last season, picking up wins at four, five and six singles. "Elena started to come on in her freshman season, she was starting to gain confidence right before the season got cut short," Cabana says. "So far this spring, I've seen her game really grow. She looks stronger and is playing with more confidence. She has the ability to be a top-three player, proving that she can handle that position."

The Embry-Riddle transfer Georgina Wood will be a solid addition to Wingate's singles lineup. "Georgina has got a lot of experience," Cabana says. "She has already played four years and she has that game that she'll make you see a lot of balls; make you have to beat her. She's going to run down more balls than you think someone can get to, so she relies a lot on her fitness. Great style to be successful."

Sophomore Flaminia Guidantoni went 5-0 in her first season at Wingate in 2020, with victories at three, four and six singles. "Flaminia has really come on strong over the spring, just in the first couple weeks from when we started practice," Cabana says. "You can see how much stronger she's gotten, just hitting the ball much bigger. On the singles court, she's not going to do much to hurt herself, she's going to make you beat her. I think she's confident in her game, she'll have some success in the bottom half of the lineup."

Wingate has plenty of depth throughout the rest of singles play, including senior Arianna Ceccaroni, along with freshman Jessica Ruetten and the Mercer transfer Sarah Huynh. Ceccaroni went 1-0 last season after a 9-0 mark in 2019, winning matches at four, five and six singles.

"We've got some good options at five and six singles," Cabana says. "We have a lot of depth, Arianna has had some experience with matches, Jessica is a freshman but has a big game, Sarah has got an all-around game that can be successful."

DOUBLES

Bompieri and Gunfaus will be a strong doubles team for the Bulldogs. Bompieri was 5-0 in doubles play last season, which included a victory at two doubles with Gunfaus. Gunfaus posted a 3-0 mark in doubles action in 2020. "This duo has good doubles experience, and their games complement each other," Cabana says. "The more matches Gunfaus gets on the doubles court, she'll get more comfortable. She has the game and ability to play well in doubles."

Ciaccia looks to team up with Ruetten in 2021. Ciaccia was 5-1 in doubles play in 2020, going 4-0 at number one doubles with Alisa Rudenko. "Camilla brings experience and knowledge of our system," Cabana says. "Jessica has a powerful game, they feed well off each other."

Wingate has a few solid options at number three doubles. "Three doubles is up for grabs," Cabana says. "We've got a lot of people and we're trying to figure out the best pairing, who can develop the best relationship and compete on the court. Every day the staff is trying to figure out what is going to be best moving forward. This position is going to be pretty fluid unless someone can rise above and prove it every day."

SCHEDULE

Wingate was slated to play in the ITA Indoor Championships in February, but had to back out due to COVID issues. The Bulldogs will be busy in the opening week. After playing at LMU Wednesday, Wingate will host Grand Valley State Friday, Coker Saturday and West Virginia State Sunday. Three days later, the Bulldogs welcome Queens to town for a key SAC matchup. That is followed by a trip to Columbus State to face the perennial national power Cougars.