VIDEO | Derrick Taylor/Alex Lopez Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's tennis season gets underway this weekend, with the Bulldogs host West Virginia State Saturday at 1 p.m. Wingate went 16-7 last season, with an 11-1 mark in league play to capture the regular season SAC title for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The Bulldogs earned their fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid and ninth of the last 11 seasons.

The Bulldogs have been dominant in league play for over a decade, piling up 16 total SAC championships while going 114-3 in conference play over the last 11 years. Wingate is ranked 20th in the ITA preseason poll. The 'Dogs are the preseason favorites, with five players earning preseason all-conference honors.

The preseason All-SAC singles honorees are Elena Gunfaus, Suzuka Sambyakugari and Alex Lopez. Gunfaus and Sambyakugari are ranked in the top 15 in the region in singles play. Chloe Kosmrlj is ranked 16th in the region.

"We want to solidify ourselves as a top program," head coach Derrick Taylor says. "We have some great senior depth and experience from Elena, Alex Lopez and Flaminia, along with our graduate transfer Gaya Solomon. They will each play different roles for the team but will help us a lot. I think we are looking to continue the success of the fall from last year's All-American Suzuka. She's having a breakout year so I'm looking forward to seeing if we can continue the sophomore surge."

Gunfuas is the region's 11th-ranked singles player. She went 11-8 last season, with a 9-2 mark in league play. Gunfaus was 8-6 at three singles, adding two wins at two singles to go along with a victory at number one singles. Sambyakugari is ranked 13th in the region. She led the 'Dogs with 19 victories last season, going 11-0 in league play while posting a 17-2 record at six singles. She also picked up wins at three and five singles. Kosmrlj is ranked 16th in the region. She picked up 10 wins last year, going 6-5 in league play with a win at one singles, six at two singles and three more at three singles.

Guidantoni posted a 17-4 record in singles play last season, with a perfect 10-0 mark in league play. She was 14-1 at number five singles, adding three victories at four singles. Lopez was 16-5 in her first season at Wingate in 2022. She went 10-2 in SAC play, going 11-3 at number four singles, while also picking up victories at two, three and five singles.

Kosmrl and Lopez are a first team All-SAC doubles duo, along with Gunfaus and Saga Berggren. "Doubles have been fun for us," Taylor says. "We have a few combinations that work well. I think Suzuka and Chloe seem to be a fixture that you'll see a lot of, but really we have several combinations that operate extremely well, and I like to shuffle it around so we will see some different looks throughout the year."

The Kosmrlj/Lopez duo went 8-3 last season, with an 8-1 mark in league play. Six of those victories came at number two doubles. Gunfaus and Berggren were 9-8 last season, going 6-5 in league play. Eight of the nine victories came at number three doubles. Sambyakugari was an ITA doubles All-American last season, teaming with Camilla Ciaccia to go 12-4 at number one singles, with an 8-2 record in league play. She went 16-5 in doubles play overall during her freshman season.

After opening the season at home against West Virginia State, the 'Dogs hit the road for the rest of the month, including a showdown at #7 Columbus State Feb. 26. The Bulldogs open SAC play at Coker March 4, then return to Wingate March 5 to host Charleston. The 'Dogs welcome fifth-ranked Flagler to town March 12.