EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Three newcomers and six returnees are set for action this week as SIUE women's tennis begins the 2026 fall season with the Cougar Invite at the SIUE Tennis Courts.

The Cougars welcome Southern Indiana, McKendree and Missouri-St. Louis for the event, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Teams will be playing singles and doubles matches throughout both days. Singles matches will be best-of-three sets with doubles being a six-game set.

This will be Coach Adam Albertsen's first opportunity to see freshmen newcomers Emma Baker, Valeriia Oleksyn and Jacinta Villalobos. The Cougars also return Stefaniya Anikina, Mya Bowe, Chloe Koons, Jessica Li, Emerson Metzger, Elena Palioura and Aliya Rector.

Albertsen also noted that if weather becomes an issue over the two-day event play could be moved indoors to the Edwardsville Y Meyer Center.

Below is the weekend schedule.

Friday, September 4th 
Singles 
9:30 a.m. - SIUE vs. McKendree 
1 p.m. - Southern Indiana vs. Missouri-St. Louis
Doubles (3 courts each) 
3 p.m. - SIUE vs. Southern Indiana
3 p.m. - McKendree vs. Missouri-St. Louis 
4 p.m. - SIUE vs. Missouri-St. Louis
4 p.m. - Southern Indiana vs. McKendree

Saturday, September 5th 
Singles 
8 a.m. - SIUE vs. Southern Indiana
11 a.m. - Missouri-St. Louis vs. McKendree 
Doubles (3 courts each) 
1 p.m. - SIUE vs. McKendree
1 p.m. - Southern Indiana vs. Missouri-St. Louis 
Singles
2 p.m. - Southern Indiana vs. McKendree 
4 p.m. - SIUE vs. Missouri-St. Louis