Jan. 9, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis men's tennis team will open the 2009 spring season this weekend at the 2009 USF Spring Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The tournament will pit the Tigers against No. 15 Illinois, No. 40 South Florida and Florida A&M.

The Tigers enter the match boasting their first ranked competitor since Amrit Narasimhan was ranked No. 98 in the fall of 2007. Jorge Vazquez, a senior from La Coruna, Spain, is entering his first spring with the U of M carrying a ranking of No. 103 in the country. Vazquez had an impressive fall season upending two ranked opponents, while also becoming the first Tiger to win four matches at a National Championship since Lee Taylor Walker did so in 2003.

Along with Vazquez, the tournament field boasts four other ranked singles competitors including Illinois' Roy Kalmanovich, the 23rd-best singles competitor in the nation and South Florida's Lucas Jovita, rated No. 27 in the rankings released last week by ITA Tennis. Jovita and doubles partner Thomas Estrada are ranked No. 15 in the nation. Illinois also has a ranked doubles tandem in No. 36 Billy Heiser and Ruan Roelofse. South Florida's Wael Kilani and Romain Deridder are currently the 58th-best doubles team in the nation.

The U of M will open the dual season next Friday at No. 24 Rice. The match will also be the first Conference USA match of the year for the Tigers.