BOSTON – The Suffolk women's tennis team opens its 2015 schedule this week as it hosts Bridgewater State and Lesley. The Rams will first take the court at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols versus the Bears Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. and will then face the Lynx Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.

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RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
The 2014 campaign saw the Rams finish third in the GNAC for the second straight season with a 4-2 conference mark. The Rams blanked Mount Ida in the quarterfinals of the GNAC Tournament to mark their fourth cleansheet of the season, the most since matching that number in 2012. Suffolk met Johnson & Wales in the semis, but the Rams could not upset the tournament's second seed, dropping a 5-2 decision to finish their season 8-7 overall.

Suffolk returns eight letterwinners, including Aidiana Sagyndykova, the reigning GNAC Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selection and Rebecca Eshoo, a second-team all-conference honoree.  

OPENING ACT
For the first time in three seasons Suffolk will open up as the home team and look for its first win on opening day since taking down Anna Maria, 7-2, at home in 2011.

PRESEASON POLL POSITION
After reaching the GNAC semifinals in 2014, the Suffolk women's tennis team was predicted to finish third in the preseason poll according to a vote of the league's seven head coaches. With eight straight conference crowns already on its resume, Simmons was the unanimous favorite to once again claim the title. The 2014 conference runner-up Johnson & Wales edged Suffolk in second play with 40 points, while the Rams fell in third with 37.

MORE READING: Women's Tennis Picked Third in GNAC Preseason Poll

RAMS RINGLEADER
Rebecca Eshoo will serve as captain for the 2015 campaign. The senior enters her final campaign in blue-and-gold following a 9-5 singles performance from the third spot in 2014.

ON THE SIDELINES
Steve Counihan enters his 11th season at the helm of the Rams. Under his guidance, Suffolk won the program's second GNAC title in 2007 with a 14-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 conference mark.

BREAKING DOWN THE BEARS
Coming off a 9-4 season, Bridgewater returns seven players from a year ago. The Bears will look to the racquet of Bojana Roman, who garnered Little East Conference accolades in both singles and doubles in 2014. Roman went 8-2 on the singles court in the fifth and sixth spots and partnered up with Alison Vautrin for a 5-1 record on the second doubles court. Also returning for Bridgewater are 2014 all-conference selections Alison Scagnelli and Alison Vautrin.

LEARN ABOUT THE LYNX
Lesley launches its dual schedule Wednesday at Wentworth Institute of Technology after closing out the 2014 season as the New England Collegiate Conference runner-up with an 11-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in NECC play. The Lynx return reigning NECC Rookie of the Year Caroline Kiddie, who notched a 12-3 singles record last season, and All-NECC player Carolyn Barker. Kiddie and Barker teamed up in doubles action in 2014 to produce a team-best  13-1 ledger including a perfect 7-0 park against NECC opponents. 

#RAMSFANFEST
Suffolk fans are invited to be a part of history Saturday, Sept. 12 as the Rams host their first soccer doubleheader at its new home turf, East Boston Memorial Park. The first Rams Fan Fest kicks off with a celebratory ceremony of Suffolk's partnership with East Boston before the women's soccer team hosts Lasell at 1:45 p.m., followed by the men's team battling Mount Ida at 4:30 p.m. The event begins at 12:30 p.m.

WHAT'S NEXT
Next week the Rams head on the road for two contests at Rhode Island College and UMass Dartmouth. Suffolk heads to Providence first for a showdown with the Anchorwomen Tuesday, Sept. 8, before stopping by the Corsairs's home Thursday, Sept. 10.