April 28, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis had two entries named to the 2006 Conference USA All-Conference teams it was announced by the league office Friday afternoon. Senior James Spence was named to two teams, while sophomore Sam Withell joined Spence on the all-conference doubles team.

Spence earned second team honors in singles after going 8-11 in singles and teaming with two different doubles partners to spend the entire season among the country's national rankings in doubles play. Spence, a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, capped his three-year Tiger career with a 43-40 mark in singles while playing primarily in the top three singles slots and a 53-32 mark in doubles. He led the Tigers on the year with eight singles victories, including a 6-4 mark at No. 3.

Spence and sophomore Sam Withell were named to the All-Conference Doubles Team. The duo was paired together after Spence lost fall partner Alex Jago to a season-ending wrist injury after climbing all the way up to No. 8 in the country in men's doubles. When Withell rejoined the Tigers from his native Australia in January, he was matched with Spence in the top doubles spot, and the tandem combined for a 12-4 record, capping their season the No. 41 ranked team in the country. The duo still awaits a slight chance that they receive an at-large entry into the NCAA Championships, which will be announced next week.

Memphis has had at least one entry named to the All-Conference Team for six of the last seven seasons, including Spence earning Third Team honors in singles last year.

The Tigers will hold their first-ever camp for junior tennis players in Memphis next weekend at the University of Memphis courts. For more information on the camp, contact Assistant Coach Lee Taylor Walker at 901-678-5309.