The University of Alabama women’s tennis team will open its spring season at home this Saturday against the University of Memphis. The Tide will also host Clemson University and the University of Tulsa on Sunday.

The team is spring-boarding off a fall season that saw senior Alexa Guarachi win the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships in singles which allowed Guarachi and her doubles partner, junior Mary Anne Mcfarlane, to enter the spring season ranked No. 2 in the country.

Head coach Jenny Mainz said the team is ready to begin the spring season and play opponents in different uniforms after competing against each other in practice since November. The three teams in attendance this weekend will make for a strong regional showing, Mainz said. The team is looking forward to the first match on Saturday but keeping its sights narrow for now.

“We’re not really going to get concerned with looking ahead,” the head coach said. “We’re focusing a lot on one match at a time. I feel like things are in place for us to take that first step and that step is obviously the first match.”

The team is focused on improving this season, which begins this weekend and runs into late May. Mainz said it is important that the players focus on what they can control and play “good, high percentage, solid tennis from the beginning.”

The team enjoys competing together and representing Alabama, Mainz said. She also spoke of the maturity of juniors and seniors on the team who have been able to mentor the younger players.

“We are truly a team,” Mainz said. “They play together. They play for each other and by each other. This is the best part of it. We’ve worked so hard to get to where we are now. It’s match week.”

Action starts on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. on the courts at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.