DATE: Feb. 19, 2016

2015 Stats at a Glance PC SEW Record 8-11 19-6 Conf. Record 6-5 5-0 Top Doubles Record 6-12 21-4 Top Singles Record 8-11 14-6 Doubles Sweeps 7 12 Singles Sweeps 5 10

TIME: 3 pm ET
LOCATION: Sewanee, TN
FACILITY: Bruton-Guerry Tennis Center
TWITTER: @PiedmontLions
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Demorest, GA - There is a growing buzz around the Piedmont College women's tennis team as youth is prevalent sparking talks of a bright future for the program.  It's a feeling shared by Head Coach Shane Wood, but also by the very youth that has everyone around Burgen Tennis Courts talking about years to come as well as the 2016 campaign. 

"I think they're excited about this year with a year under their belts," said Wood talking about his now sophomore quartet returning for year two at Burgen. "To be honest, our sophomores are very talented.  Girls like DURDEN SMITH have so much potential, she has all the shots.  She's a competitive girl, and I'm looking for her and that entire group to have a big year."

Though the Lady Lions return a bevy of young talent, the team will no doubt be led by veterans in senior NICOLE PARRISH and junior AMANDA BLACKWELL. Head Coach Shane Wood is happy to have both returning on the courts, but believes they add intangibles as well that he will need to count on in 2016.

"Nicole works hard on and off the court, and she just really tries to be the most complete player she can be," said Wood of his lone senior.  "She has improved leaps and bounds since her freshman year to senior year as a player.  The kids see that improvement, Trey and I have seen it, and she's pushing the other girls to be better."

"Amanda has also grown from freshman to junior year in terms of number of wins and in terms of ability to play tougher opponents. She can really hang with anyone now, and when she plays doubles with Nicole, they're very intense on the court helping to emotionally lead our team as well.  They can definitely fuel the rest of the team."

Even more familiarity will be on the coaching staff as not only does 13-year Head Coach Shane Wood return, but the long-time leader adds Trey Martin to the coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach.  Martin spent his own four year career on the courts playing at Piedmont College, and Wood is looking forward to having him on staff especially when it comes to sharing his own Piedmont experiences with current and future players.

"He's a Piedmont guy, he knows the program. So when he jumps in on the court, he knows what I expect in terms of how practice is run and about what we need to get done that day," said Wood.  "The other part of his hire, something I've already seen sending him out on the recruiting trail, is that he really loves this school."

Martin's passion for the program is shared by many as the championship feel around Burgen Tennis Courts has affected the mentality of the teams with Piedmont having posted one of their biggest wins of the last few years in one of the brightest moments, a 5-4 thriller over Huntingdon in the USA South Quarterfinals in 2015.  

Piedmont needed wins in singles action to hold off the rallying Lady Hawks in that match and though the result was what PC wanted, Head Tennis Coach Shane Wood knows that his team is readying for more in 2016.

"Huntingdon is always a big match for us, and we're excited about having them at our place this year," said Wood of the known rivalry with its former GSAC partner. "The ladies had a very nice win against them in the postseason last year to get to the semis, but we want to build off of that. We don't want to settle for that every year.  We want to see if we can take the next step and be a contender to go all the way to that championship match."

The road to the postseason starts at the home of the Tigers on Friday, February 19 against Sewanee with the match slated to start at 3:00 pm.  Fans should continue to check the home of the Tigers on the web, SewaneeTigers.com for match changes or results. 

STORYLINES
--Sewanee serves as Piedmont's season opener yet again
--PC led by two veterans on the courts, Parrish and Blackwell
--Looking for a return to the semis in postseason play

GAME FACTS
The Lady Lions are taking on the Tigers in Sewanee, Tennessee on Friday, February 19 in the women's tennis season opener with the match slated for a 3:00 pm start.  

THE COACHES' CORNER: A TAKE FROM HEAD COACH SHANE WOOD 
Speaking on the young talent returning: "A year older, a year wiser.  They've come to know what to expect in terms of practices and what we're looking for competitively.  They know how to navigate the schedule.  They know what opponents are like and what college tennis is all about."

Highlighting NICOLE PARRISH:  "She's really earned that leadership role because she's worked so incredibly hard on her game.  She works hard off the court with her fitness, and she just really tries to be the most complete player she can be.  Nicole has improved leaps and bounds since her freshman year to senior year as a player.  The kids see that improvement, Trey and I have seen it, and she's pushing the other girls to be better."

On new Graduate Assistant Coach Trey Martin:  "He's a Piedmont guy, he knows the program. So when he jumps in on the court, he knows what I expect in terms of how practice is run and about what we need to get done that day.  The other part of his hire, something I've already seen sending him out on the recruiting trail, is that he really loves this school. He's very good one-on-one with recruits, and he's had a lot of kids on campus already this year just sharing his experiences as a student-athlete.  He's doing a great job as a recruiter, and it's been a good transition for him so far."

Talking 2016 season opener: "Sewanee has a nationally renowed team in terms of men's and women's tennis.  Their coaches have been there forever, and have been doing well just as long. It is a measuring stick for us, we like to go up there and play a really good opponent right off the bat just to get us ready for down the road and see where we are. Knowing that you have that level of opponent ahead, I preach to the kids there's no need to be nervous or hold anything back.  You know these guys are good, they've got the pedigree, so let's go up there and compete with them holding nothing back."

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Sewanee has taken all six meetings in the series since the 2008 season. The two have met in each of the last four seasons opening Piedmont's spring season each time.  All of the previous six meetings in the series have come away from Burgen Tennis Courts.

SCOUTING SEWANEE (Southern Athletic Association)
Undefeated in Southern Athletic Association play last season, Sewanee comes into the Friday season opener for Piedmont having already played four matches earning a 2-2 record so far with wins against Centre and Tennessee Wesleyan in 9-0 sweeps.  Sewanee's only two losses this season have come to top 20 competition as the Tigers fell to Emory 7-2 and Washington (MO) 6-3.  The Tigers are ranked 12th in the latest ITA National Rankings.

NOT A PARRISH-ABLE ITEM
Senior NICOLE PARRISH may be in her final season with the Lady Lion tennis program, but her effect on the program is more than just wins and losses as the veteran is an unquestioned leader for the team looking to make a second straight showing in the USA South Semifinals.  Parrish was key in last year's postseason run teaming with fellow veteran AMANDA BLACKWELL to take a win at #1 doubles in the quarterfinal win over Huntingdon before taking a straight sets decision at #3 singles to finish off the Lady Hawks in the postseason win. 

YOUTH STARTING TO SHOW AGE
Piedmont returns four sophomores to this year's roster of seven with most of those players having accounted for key wins last season as just freshmen in the mix.  Included in those returners is a pair of doubles partners in MORGAN COWART and DURDEN SMITH who accounted for six doubles wins at the #2 spot last season.  Also coming back for an encore is TATIANA BURKETT who spent her 2015 debut at #6 singles as well as KARINA RIVERA who posted five singles wins in her debut season last year.

NEXT UP FOR PIEDMONT
The Lady Lions stay on the road for a neutral site match against Transylvania at Sewanee on February 20 with the match set to take place in one of two facilities of the Tigers' home site, the outdoor Bruton-Guerry Tennis Center or the indoor Charlotte Guerry Indoor Tennis Courts.