WAVERLY, Iowa – The Wartburg women's tennis team opens 2019 this weekend with a trio of matches in Illinois, beginning with its first test of the year at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. on Friday prior to a pair of matches on Saturday in Lisle, Ill. versus North Central and Concordia University Wisconsin.

The Knights are coming off their most successful season in program history last year, winning their first ever American Rivers Conference Championship with an 8-0 conference record.

Chris Gustas, last year's A-R-C Coach of the Year, is entering his fourth year as head coach. The Knights will see All-Conference returners Hannah Fox, Lauren O'Brian and Rachel Zittergruen and key returner Gabby Olejniczak. The team also welcomes four newcomers, who were each all state-qualifiers.

"I don't think that this program has ever had this many talented players as we do right now" said Gustas.

The fall slate features six non-conference matches along with the ITA Regionals in St. Peter, Minn. Sept. 20-21. A-R-C competition begins for the Knights on the road at Nebraska Wesleyan University Sept. 7. Wartburg hosts Loras Sept. 10 during the home opener.