University of Arkansas – Fort Smith men’s and women’s tennis placed four on the Lone Star Conference Tennis Preseason Players to Watch List, announced Tuesday by the league office.
Anis Ramchane and Killian Darneaux were the representatives for the men’s program while Petra Csizmadia and Camila Romero were selected for the women.
Ramchane and Darneaux teamed at No. 1 doubles for a Lions squad that won its first Lone Star Conference Tournament match last season. The duo posted a 10-7 overall mark, including 5-3 in conference play.
In singles, Ramchane went 7-11 at No. 1 singles last season and had a pair of regionally ranked wins. Darneaux went 5-13 at No. 4 and picked up a win in the LSC Quarterfinals against Lubbock Christian.
Csizmadia posted a 5-13 mark at No. 2 singles for the Lions last season and is expected to move up to the top flight this year. In doubles, she paired with Isabella Serrano at No. 2 a year ago.
Romero returns to the lineup after missing the 2022-23 season due to injury. In her first two seasons, Romero recorded an 11-18 record at Nos. 5 and 6 singles. She went 7-7 at No. 3 doubles in 2021-22.
Women’s tennis begins the season February 9 at Henderson State while the men start their season Feb. 13 at the University of the Ozarks.
Conference teams face each of their LSC opponents in a single round-robin schedule format starting in mid-March and continuing through the month of April. The men’s and women’s team with the best winning percentage over the conference matches is the LSC champion.
The 2024 LSC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tournaments will be played concurrently April 25-26-27 at the Arlington (Texas) Tennis Center. Winners of the two tournaments earn the LSC automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tennis Championships. Regional play in the national tournaments May 10-11 for the women and May 13-14 for the men. National finals are scheduled May 20-25 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., as part of the spring NCAA Division II Championship Festival.
