Jan. 22, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

The Memphis women's tennis team will continue a tough road stretch with matches against Missouri and No. 38 Ohio State on Sat., Jan. 23 at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia, Mo. Memphis comes into the match with a 2-2 record after opening the season with wins against North Carolina Central and Oral Roberts and losses to No. 1 Duke and No. 36 Tulsa.

The Lady Tigers are led by singles netters Ashley Murdock and Courtney Collins at the top of the lineup. Murdock, a senior from Memphis, Tenn., is a two-time All-C-USA selection and is currently ranked as the 19th-best singles player in the Ohio Valley region. Collins, a freshman from Fulton, Miss., was a top 50 recruit prior to arriving at the U of M in the fall of 2009. She is currently ranked as the 17th-best singles netter in the Ohio Valley region.

The match with the Missouri Tigers will commence at 8 a.m., on Saturday morning. The match will open the dual season for the Missouri Tigers. Coach Blake Starkey's Tigers are coming off a 9-12 season in 2009. Missouri finished the season ranked No. 75 according to College Tennis Online.

The Missouri Tigers are led by Mallory Weber, a junior from Belleville, Ill. Weber put up a 10-14 record last spring at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions for Missouri. In doubles, last year's No. 1 doubles duo of Weber and Jamie Mera return after going 6-15.

No. 38 Ohio State comes into Saturday's match with a 2-0 record after picking up wins over Xavier and Cleveland State on Tues., Jan. 19. Ohio State finished last season ranked as the 37th-best team in the nation according to College Tennis Online.

The Buckeyes are led by the nation's 53rd-ranked singles netter Kirsten Flower. Flower, a senior from Upper Arlington, Ohio, led Ohio State in doubles victories with 19 last season on her way to an All-Big Ten team selection.

Fans can follow the Missouri match via live stats on Missouri's website by clicking here.