Texas’ women’s tennis opened its season with a trip to Houston to compete at the Rice Invitational. 

Head coach Howard Joffe brought back five players from the 2015-2016 team, and added four freshmen. 

Senior Neda Koprcina, an All-Big 12 honoree, comes off a stellar junior season where she won 21 of 23 duels. She also clinched the game to upset No. 9 Duke in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Championships last spring. She heads into the new season with a No. 82 national ranking.

Junior Dani Wagland won 12 dual-matches last season, including an impressive eight wins in singles. She enters the season ranked No. 113, according to the International Tennis Association.

The Longhorns also return sophomore Daniella Roldan, who won eight singles dual-matches, while sophomore Chelsea Crovetti added another three singles victories.

Joining the team are freshmen Anna Turati and Biance Turati of Italy, Petra Granic of Croatia and Madison Cleff of Colleyville. 

The Rice Invitational begins on Friday and concludes Sunday. It fields players from 17 schools and features 16 singles and doubles matches.