Feb. 20, 2004

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (3-2, 1-0 C-USA) will return to their home courts for a pair of non-conference matches, beginning with a non-conference match-up against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, at 11 a.m., and following with a Sunday match against Middle Tennessee, also an 11 a.m. match.

The Lady Tigers are looking to get back into the win column after having their three-match winning streak snapped in a 7-0 loss at Arkansas-Little Rock, Tuesday.

First up for Memphis will be a shallow UL-Monroe roster. ULM is 2-4 on the season and has a six-player roster that has had to forfeit each of the No. 6 singles matches over the last couple of matches, possibly due to injuries.

Diana Espinal will likely be the No. 1 singles opponent for Memphis' Marlene Dirnstorfer. Dirnstorfer suffered her first singles loss of the year at UALR, falling in three sets and falling to 4-1 on the season at the top singles spot.

Fellow senior Viktoria Gruber will probably square off against Nataly Ostrovska at No. 2 singles. Ostrovska fell in a tough three-set match at Arkansas State in the Indians' last match, winning the first set 6-1, before falling 6-4, 10-8 to close out the match.

Stacy Gayne has been playing No. 3 singles for ULM, and will probably face Andrea Feichtinger on Saturday. Gayne went 1-1 in singles last week, downing an opponent from Alcorn State in straight sets before falling to Arkansas State's Marusa Pogacnik, 6-2, 6-2.

The Lady Tiger roster offers some depth for the 4, 5 and 6 singles spots. The Lady Tigers can counter with sophomore Kristin Noble or any of the three freshmen - Yesica Ares, Alex Tjioe or Christina Wieser to round out their line-up. The doubles team of Noble and Wieser won the Lady Tigers' only match at UALR, winning their No. 3 doubles match, 8-3.

Cassidy Shaw and Kayla Douzat round out the ULM roster, with the Indians' defaulting the No. 6 singles matches and the No. 3 doubles match in their last two contests.

Following the ULM match, Memphis will face a very good Middle Tennessee team, Sunday. The Lady Raiders are led by senior Manon Kruse, the No. 54 ranked singles player in the country on the singles side and by Kruse and doubles teammate Carien Venter, the No. 31 ranked doubles team in the country on the doubles side.

The Lady Raiders have a deep and experienced roster, brining three seniors, three juniors and just one freshman against a Lady Tiger roster that features two second-year seniors, no juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.

Middle Tennessee is 4-2 on the season, picking up wins over Mississippi State and Saint Louis, and falling to Kentucky and Georgia Tech on the road. Middle Tennessee is 2-1 on the road before playing at UALR, Friday, before stopping in Memphis, Sunday.