Jan. 28, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis women's tennis team will host Kennesaw State and Murray State on Jan. 29 at The Racquet Club of Memphis. Friday's match with Kennesaw State will commence at 12 p.m. The match with Murray State will follow the conclusion of the opening match. Friday's matches will serve as the first time either of the Tiger tennis programs have competed at The Racquet Club of Memphis since it became the official home for both men's and women's tennis at the University of Memphis last fall.

"We are excited to return home to the Racquet Club after a tough stretch on the road," said Memphis head coach Lee Taylor Walker. "Kennesaw State and Murray State are two very good teams and will each provide a challenge for our team this weekend."

The Lady Tigers started their season with a tough road stretch that sent them to three states for six matches in seven days.

Memphis has been led this season by freshman Courtney Collins, a native of Fulton, Miss. Collins has a 3-3 singles record so far this season including wins over opponents from Oral Roberts, North Carolina Central and Missouri. Collins' fellow freshman Andrea Arques-Garcia has also had a solid start to the 2010 season. The native of Alicante, Spain, comes into the weekend with a 2-3 singles mark after picking up wins over North Carolina Central and Oral Roberts.

In doubles, the duo of Collins and Kelly Gray, a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., come into the weekend with a 2-1 record after picking up victories at the No. 3 doubles position over North Carolina Central and Missouri. The pair fell to No. 38 Ohio State's No. 3 pair, 8-7.

Kennesaw State comes into Friday's match with a 0-1 record after falling to No. 35 Auburn to open the season. The Owls are led by Vera Shkundina, a sophomore from Ufa, Russia, who went 15-4 at the No. 1 position as a freshman.

Friday's dual will be the season opener for Murray State. Coach Connie Keasling's squad went 12-7 in 2009. Murray State is led by senior Angela McGahee, a native of Memphis, Tenn., and sophomore Cassidy Cunitz, who went 6-2 at the No. 2 position.