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TeamNews| Surrey Smashers vs Loughborough Lightning
Monday 17 October

In summary

• 5 of last year's beaten starting eight start for Loughborough Lightning
• Smashers hand debuts to three of their summer signings, includingDanish legend, Marie Roepke
• Tom Wolfenden carries the double threat for Surrey playing in men'sand mixed doubles
• Average age of Lightning squad is 21 as Loughborough focus onhomegrown
• Swedish star Henri Hurskainen back for Season 3

Theymay have a new name for the new season but there's an air of familiarity withthe Loughborough Lightning l ine-up who head to Guildford to face Surrey Smashers on opening night.

Five ofthe starting eight beaten to the title by Birmingham Lions in May keep theirplaces with Peter Briggs , Greg Mairs , Jenny Moore , Henri Hurskainen and ChloeBirch all set to feature.

Birchwill double up playing both singles and women's doubles with Viki Williams asshe looks to maintain a run which has seen 12 wins in her 14 AJ Bell NBLevents.

Williamsmakes her 4 ^th appearance in three seasons for the Lightning as shesteps up to replace the departed Lauren Smith and Jenny Wallwork.

GregMairs and Jenny Moore will be keen to keep up their strong record which saw them secure four wins in six last year.

SurreySmashers head coach Hayley Adcock turns to Tom Wolfenden to play in both mixedand mens doubles in the absence of Team GB pair Chris Langridge and GabbyAdcock who are away on international duty in Denmark.

And Wolfenden will have something to prove on two fronts. He is the only survivor in the line up from that 5-0 whitewash dished out by Loughborough in Season 1 and will also face regular partner Peter Briggs across the net when he joins new recruit Ben Stawski , signed from Team Derby last month.

Newsignings Marie Roepke and Sam Parsons (both signed from former franchise MKBadminton) make their debuts with Roepke looking to maintain her 100% mixeddoubles record in the league. The Dane will play alongside GB's Sophie Brown who has now played with three partners in five events with the Smashers.

Parsons'will be chasing a first on his debut having lost out in both his last twoappearances against his new side in a record that reads one win in seven.

ReigningU19 national champion Abigail Holden continues her top class education byflying solo in the womens singles event for the first time after previouslyplaying doubles.

Key Event | Tom Wolfenden & Ben Stawski  vs  Peter Briggs & Greg Mairs

Tickets | To enjoy Surrey Smashers vs Loughborough Lightning from the edge of your seat in Guildford,  click here.