FLORENCE, S.C. – Despite a one-day delay because of this week’s winter weather, the Francis Marion University women’s tennis team will open its 2007 season at home on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 3).

The 20th-ranked Patriots will entertain Brenau University on Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts. The match was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved to Saturday when the Brenau campus received snow on Thursday.

FMU returns nine of 10 letterwinners from last year’s squad that posted a program-best 20-6 record and earned FMU’s first NCAA Division II national tournament invitation in seven seasons.

Junior Jenny Ludwig (Cologne, Germany) and senior Kamini Murugaboopathy (Chennai, India) head the returnees. They are ranked 39th and 41st respectively in the current NCAA Division II singles rankings. Ludwig won 15 of her final 16 singles decisions in 2006 to compile a 19-6 record at the No. 2 position, while Murugaboopathy played the No. 3 singles spot and finished the year with a 22-3 mark and a 14-match winning streak. They also teamed together for a 17-7 doubles record in 2006 and are currently ranked 16th nationally.

Last year’s team most valuable player, senior Magda Jezovicova (Cesky Tesin, Czech Republic), also returns after registering a 12-3 mark at No. 4 singles despite being hampered by injuries. Junior Sarka Vitkova (Humpolec, Czech Republic), who occupied the No.1 singles spot last year, is also back.

Four Florence natives are also on the roster: freshman Mary Beth Belk (South Florence High School) and juniors Sarah Hickman (South Florence), Elizabeth Lee (Trinity Collegiate School), and Sara Moyer (Wilson High School). Manning native Jordan Gettys, Summerville freshman Emma Dooley, and senior Maria Covell of Hampstead, Md., round out the squad’s roster.

Patriot head coach Garth Thomson enters his 15th at the helm of the Patriots, while owning a 158-133 record. Five of FMU’s six losses last season were to nationally ranked opponents, all of which were ranked 13th or higher.

The Patriot men, ranked 14th in NCAA Division II, will open its season on Wednesday when both FMU squads host Barton College at 3 p.m.