AUSTIN, Texas -- The Concordia Texas men's tennis team returns to team action for the first time in seven years Friday against Division I member UT Rio Grande Valley. The women's team begins its season the next day at Howard Payne.

Both Tornado programs had strong fall campaigns that saw individual success in various tournaments around Texas.

Concordia's men were picked to finish fourth in the ASC West, while the women were chosen sixth in a poll of the league's head coaches.

No CTX player was stronger than Gabriel Borunda, who won his first-ever collegiate tournament, the ASC Fall Individual Tournament.

On the women's side, Alexis Popovich also had a strong individual campaign, which she capped with a strong showing in the consolation bracket at the ITA Women's Fall Regional.

The Tornados' schedule features several ASC foes, including West division-favorite Hardin-Simmons. In addition to the Vaqueros, CTX's non-conference slate has Division II member St. Edward's and the NAIA's University of the Southwest and Texas A&M –Texarkana.

The men's season opens Friday at 2 p.m. at River Place Country Club. They'll be joined by the women's squad to make the trip to Howard Payne on Jan. 30.