The newcomers for the SIU women’s tennis team may be heralded, but they took some softball-sized lumps at the University of Missouri Invitational on Sept. 15.

At that meet junior Alejandra Blanco and freshman Maria Blanco were the only Salukis to win a match in singles play. The tandem of Kari Stark and Zoya Honarmand claimed the only other SIU victory in No. 3 doubles.

“I wasn’t displeased,” said SIU head coach Judy Auld. “I think they were really shell shocked [at the Missouri Invite]. The younger players just didn’t anticipate the competition.

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“It really opened their eyes, which is good.”

Jessica Knitter, a junior who was ITA junior college state champion of California, admitted the game now is played at higher level.

“It is a lot tougher,” Knitter said. “The girls are a lot better.”

Knitter said she expected the competition to be stronger when she decided to come to SIU.

But the competition is allowing players to pick up things they would have never learned before at a lower level.

“The girls here try hard on every point,” said Maria Blanco. “So now I have started to do that since the first competition.”

They will get their chance to put what they have learned to use today and Saturday at the Saluki Invitational. The invite is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at University Courts.

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Memphis, Chicago State, and Eastern Illinois are all scheduled to compete.

“I know Memphis is bringing in a really strong team,” Auld said. “Their No.1 (singles player) from last year is still playing No.1. I am anticipating they will be the strongest team here.”

Auld said Eastern is bringing eight players this weekend so she would prefer to play Memphis early because the Salukis would be fresh.

At the Saluki Invitational, Auld is looking for her players to be mentally tougher than they were in Missouri.

“I think one of the main things I want to see is good play,” Auld said. “I’d like to see a lot of wins and improvement and see some more maturity.

“If they are down, I want them to fight back. If they are up, I want them to close out the match.”

The Salukis will field a similar lineup with Alejandra Blanco at No. 1 and Maria Blanco at No. 2. Kari Stark will compete at the No. 5 spot and walk-on Yasmine Faraq at No. 6.

The only change Auld made to the lineup was switching Knitter and Honarmand. Knitter, who was at No. 4, will now compete at No.3, while Honarmand moved to No.4

“I am a little nervous,” Knitter said. “There is higher expectations for me at No.3. And obviously the girls are better there.”

But while the newcomers were thrown to the wolves, SIU doesn’t plan on being the prey much longer.

Reporter Zack Creglow can be reached at [email protected]