Nov. 4, 2002

CHICAGO, Ill. - Junior Lee Taylor Walker (Jackson, Tenn./University School of Jackson) was named the Conference USA Men's Tennis player of the month by the league office, Monday.

Walker, who downed a pair of SEC opponents in three sets before falling in the singles quarterfinals at the Omni Hotels Region III Indoor Championships, also advanced to the finals of that same tournament in doubles. He and teammate Ben Stapp defeated one doubles team from LSU and two from Alabama before falling to the Crimson Tide's No. 1 duo in the finals. Stapp and Walker were 6-3 in doubles for the month of October and are currently ranked No. 29 in the country in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.

Walker, who joined Memphis last season after transferring from Clemson, is currently 3-3 in singles and 9-3 at No. 1 doubles. He and Stapp won the doubles title at Middle Tennessee to begin the season.

Walker becomes the second University of Memphis tennis player to earn league player of the month honors after senior Sabrina Lindemann earned the women's award in September. Two Tigers were also named the league's player of the week in 2002 when Michael Chamberlain and Alex Bucewicz earned weekly honors.

The men's tennis team will have individuals participate in the Adult Southern Open in Memphis, Dec. 27-31, before competing in the Milwaukee Classic, Jan. 9-12. The team will open its dual match schedule in February.