WASHINGTON (February 2, 2023) - The Howard University men's and women's tennis teams are set to open the 2023 campaign Thursday (Feb. 2) against the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Southeast D.C. Match time is set for 12:45 p.m.
 
SEASON OUTLOOK
 
Howard Director of Tennis Nicholas Askew enters his third season at the helm where he won 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Tennis Coach of the Year.
 
HU Associate Head Coach Zach Tobias and Bison alum assistant coach Jessica Josiah join Askew in their first season on the sidelines.
 
MEN'S SEASON OUTLOOK
 
The men's team enters the 2023 campaign with juniors Justin Cadeau (West Orange, N.J.), Hassimiyou Dieng (Dakar Senegal), Gabe Knowles (Allentown, Pa.) and Pierce Westbrook (New Orleans) and sophomores Daniel Dunac (Washington) and Marcel Dawson (Columbus, Ga.).
 
This year, Cadeau will be one to watch on the court after making the All-MEAC First Team a year ago.
 
WOMEN'S SEASON OUTLOOK
 
This season's eight-women roster features seniors Alexandra Blackwell (Austin, Texas), Hana ElSherif (Cairo, Egypt), Yemisi Ifederu (London, England) and Emnet Simunyola (Lorton, Va.), sophomores Sifa Butcher (Pembroke Pines Fla.), Jordan Grayson (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Nadia Pegram (Naples Fla.) and anchored by a lone freshman Selah Stibbins (Minneapolis).
 
Last season, Grayson claimed 2022 MEAC Player of the Year in her freshman campaign. Grayson and ElSherif made All-MEAC First Team after the 2022 season.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SAINT FRANCIS (PA.)
 
On the men's side, the Bison are set to compete against SFU for the first time since 2017. During a three-year stretch (2015-17), the Red Flash won all three contests.
 
SFU women's team also holds a 2-1 record over Howard.
 
In the fall season, both programs competed in the Mount St. Mary's Invitational where Howard finished 6-3 in singles and 3-2 in doubles against Saint Francis.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Howard is set to play a full schedule in preparation for the MEAC Championships (April 27-29) in Cary, NC.
 
On February 5, the Bison hit the road to play Temple in Philadelphia. Match time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.