Jan. 28, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis women's tennis team will open their 2009 home slate this weekend with two matches against in-state opponents. The Lady Tigers (0-1) will face-off with the Lipscomb Bison (1-0) on Fri., Jan. 30 at 6 p.m., at the Wellworx Sporting Club in East Memphis. The U of M's home stand will continue with a match against UT Martin (0-0) on Sun., Feb. 1 at 2 p.m., at Wellworx.

"Last weekend was good for us to get started and get our feet wet," said Memphis Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker. "This week is designed more to get our girls some good home matches against some good opponents in order to help us become more sharp and crisp in our game and to build a lot of confidence for everybody moving forward in the season."

The Lady Tigers opened the 2009 spring season last week with a match in Athens, Ga., against sixth-rated Georgia. The Lady Tigers fell to the Lady Bulldogs, 7-0. Marjorie Ondeck, a junior from Monroe, Ct., picked up a first set victory over Yvette Hyndman, currently ranked 100th in the nation, while playing at the No. 2 slot. Ondeck has opened the season with a 2-2 record picking up two wins at the Samford Winter Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., last weekend. Her teammates Lindsey Wiseman and Dara Toulch also come into Friday's match with a 2-2 mark.

Memphis came away from the Samford Winter Invitational with 10 singles victories and six doubles wins over opponents from conference-rival UAB, Jacksonville State and Samford.

Friday's match will be the second of the season for Lipscomb. The Lady Bisons upended Alabama A&M, 7-0, last weekend at the Whitworth Tennis Center in Nashville. Lipscomb's squad is led by Raphaela Jann at the No. 1 singles position. Jann defeated Alabama A&M's Me'Shala Johnson, 3-6, 6-1, 10-4. The Lady Bisons are coming off of an 0-19 mark during the 2008 spring season. Head Coach Dr. Lynn Griffith returns all seven players from last year's roster.

The match on Sunday against UT Martin will be the first of the season for the Skyhawks. UT Martin was defeated, 5-2, in the opening match of last season against Memphis. UT Martin posted a 7-12 record during the 2008 season. The Skyhawks return five-of-seven members of last season's roster including Sara Leavy who posted a 15-10 record while participating at the No. 2 spot last season for Coach Dennis Taylor's squad.

Following this weekend's home stand, the Lady Tigers will head back to Birmingham, Ala., where they will participate in dual matches with UAB and Samford. The Lady Tigers have already battled opponents from UAB and Samford at the 2009 Samford Winter Invitational last weekend.