Oct. 9, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis men's tennis team will return to action on Friday at the North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. Tennis players Jordan Smith, K.C. Griffin and Spencer Heflin will compete in the tournament to be held at the UNF Tennis Complex from Oct. 10-12. Teams from North Florida, Memphis, Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, South Carolina State, Troy, Belmont, East Tennessee State, Mercer and Jacksonville will compete in Jacksonville. The North Florida Ospreys were ranked as high as No. 75 in Division I during the 2008 season. The tournament includes four other teams who were ranked at some point in 2008; Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee State.

"The North Florida Tournament is a very strong field that will provide a lot of top quality matches for our three players," said Head Coach Paul Goebel. "It will be a good test to see how their hard work has progressed."

This is the fourth fall tournament of the year for the Memphis men's tennis team. Jorge Vazquez, Michael Gaerthoeffner and Leon Nasemann all competed at 2008 D'Nova ITA Championships in Tulsa, Okla. Vazquez advanced the furthest of any Tiger tennis member since Lee Taylor Walker in 2003, winning four matches at the first national championship of the year.

K.C. Griffin, a freshman for the Tigers from Millington, Tenn., is undefeated thus far in his collegiate career. Griffin advanced to his flight finals at both the Blue and Gray Invitational and the ULL Invitational. Griffin and fellow freshman David Henry shared the crown for their final at the ULL Invitational. Griffin's record currently stands at 6-0. He has beaten competitors from Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, Grambling and North Alabama.

Jordan Smith went 1-1 in his last tournament, the ULL Invitational in Lafayette, La. A sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., Smith went 3-10 last season in his first year as a member of the U of M tennis program.

Spencer Heflin enters Friday's tournament after going 0-1 at the ULL Invitational. Heflin was 6-6 last year for the Tigers.

Memphis' next action will come at the ITA Regional in Lexington, Ky. on Oct. 16.