DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman tennis teams open their Fall schedule this weekend just down the road at the Embry-Riddle Open beginning Friday morning.

Each squad will play five tournaments this fall. Next week is the season's signature event – the HBCU Nationals in Jonesboro, Ga. The Lady Wildcats won last year's tournament.

B-CU is hosting a fall event – the Wildcat Clay Court Invitational November 1-3 at the Florida Tennis Center.

WOMEN'S OUTLOOK: The Lady Wildcats went 15-12 and advanced to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference semifinals in 2012. Gone is four-year standout Shereen Peterson-Paul, but junior Gaby Chinchilla leads seven returners. Chinchilla was 16-8 in singles play and combined with Chinatsu Kajiwara to win 11 doubles matches.  Two international newcomers -- Mina Matsuba (Japan) and  Maria Sablina (Russia) – were nationally ranked in their respective countries.

MEN'S OUTLOOK: The core of Santiago Lobelo, Juan Varon, Diego Garavito and Gilbert Kibet is back from last year's 13-16 team  Newcomers include Pablo Lopez (Spain) and Joao “Greg” Almeida (Brazil).

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Friday will mark the first usage of the official B-CU tennis account – @Catstennis. Daily recaps will be posted here on bcuathletics.com