The UNC Wilmington women’s tennis team exceeded expectations in coach Evan Clark’s first season at the helm last year as the Seahawks advanced to the conference finals for the first time in program history.

After achieving such great success in his first year, Clark is hoping his team can take the next step in the coming season.

“The second year is always better because you’re more comfortable,” Clark said. “You know everybody coming back, you know how everything is run and the team is more comfortable. They know me now; they know how I work. First years can be a little stressed at times. It went very well though, with a great end to the season.”

The Seahawks finished last season with a record of 14-7, winning eight of their last 10 matches before falling to William & Mary in the CAA championship.

With the team losing only one player from last year’s team, albeit it being successful graduate Christian Riley, returning experience is key for the team to succeed this year.

“It is an unbelievable group, a close group that is trying to build off of their best year in school history and do even better this year,” Clark said. “They deserve a lot of credit for what they did last year.”

Seniors Angie Sekely, Kelly Cameron and Olga Blank all look to play important roles for the Seahawks this season.

Sekely returns to the No. 1 singles position for UNCW after earning First-Team All-CAA honors last season, finishing with a 12-6 record. The program’s top player made the jump to the conference’s First-Team after being named to the Second-Team All-CAA squads her freshman and sophomore years.

Cameorn was named to the Second-Team All-CAA squad in singles and doubles last year after compiling a 16-4 singles record and 13-5 doubles record. This included a perfect 7-0 mark at the No. 5 singles position.

Blank, sister of recent UNCW graduate and men’s tennis player Kosta Blank, is also a former two-time Second-Team All-CAA selection in her freshman and sophomore years.

Without any freshmen on the team, the Seahawks will enter the season with experience on their side, as they try to advance further into the postseason.