EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - After an encouraging and successful fall season, the Hartford men's and women's tennis teams get back on the courts this weekend to open their spring schedules. The men host Fairfield on Friday night, and the women will welcome Rhode Island to town on Saturday afternoon. Both matches will take place indoors at the East Hartford Tennis Club.

The men will get the spring started first, taking on Fairfield on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The Hawks are coming off a 3-1 record in the fall, winning their final three matches against Siena (4-3), St. Francis (N.Y.) (6-1) and Holy Cross (6-1). The three victories already eclipses last year's total, as Hartford grabbed two wins during the full 2009-10 year.

Junior co-captain Aneil Bhalla helped the Hawks to their big fall, winning four singles matches and six doubles matches. Joel de los Santos, Eric Floum and Josh Isaacson also had four singles victories, while Marco Neves led the team with six singles triumphs.

The women get to work on Saturday afternoon, taking on Rhode Island at 2:00 p.m. The women also had a strong fall season, going 2-2 with victories over St. Francis (N.Y.) (6-1) and Holy Cross (4-3). Hartford was propelled by some of its newcomers, including Lauren Coggins who got four individual victories, and Katina Zampas who won three singles matches and three doubles matches with Coggins. Kaitlin Lennon also had a strong fall, going 3-1 in singles play and 2-2 in doubles.