NATCHITOCHES–It is warm welcome back to the Northwestern State Lady Demons, as they begin the fall season with the Natchitoches Lady Demon Collegiate Invitational.
 
The tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex. It was originally scheduled to begin Friday, but it was pushed back a day due to Hurricane Francine passing through the gulf.
 
"We are in such a good spot," second year head coach Marcos Morelli said. "I have never felt the team is closer to each other than now. We are a team, we are a very solid unit."
 
Northwestern State welcomes members from Southland Conference opponent McNeese, as well as UL Lafayette, UL Monroe and Tyler Junior College.
 
The players will play as individuals and there will not be team scores.
 
NSU welcomes three new players to the roster: Tyler Junior College transfer Zoi Spyrou, and two freshmen, Valeria Ortega and Pika Doberlet. "They have a lot to work on, but they are definitely on the right path," Morelli said.
 
Five players return from NSU's previous season: Maria Farina, Honoka Umeda, Sofi Garcia, Ayu Ishibashi, and Tjasa Klevisar.
 
Garcia earned second team All-SLC honors with her performance from last year's season.
 
"I'm eager to see how they do in this tournament," coach Morelli explains. "As coaches, we don't really care who wins or loses, we care to see what we have been practicing; attitude and discipline, so we care to see that."