Virginia Union University's women's tennis team returned to the court for the first time in two years as the Lady Panthers hosted Virginia State University on Saturday, March 5, at Battery Park in Richmond, Va.

Although Virginia State defeated VUU 5-3 in the match, the loss was hardly disheartening.

"We worked through a lot of obstacles just to get to match," said VUU Head Tennis Coach Brittany Uzzell.  "I am super-proud, not only of what the girls did on the courts today, but also off the courts to get to this point.  We didn't get the outcome we wanted, but we learned what we need to work on to move forward and I'm really hopeful and excited for this team."

For the first time in the program's history, VUU fans made their way to Battery Park to cheer on the new-look Lady Panthers.  The fans brought with them an air of excitement that was new to players.

"I told the girls when I got here that I wanted to change the culture," Uzzell said.  "I thought it was going to take a little longer, but I didn't know it was going to change with the first match.  It's good to see and it makes the girls play better when they can look into the stands and see people cheering them on."

Virginia Union now travels to Elizabeth City, N.C., to face Elizabeth City State University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.