March 9, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team will return to action with two matches on Wed., March 10 in the Grand Canyon State. The Lady Tigers will face the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters at 9 a.m., at the Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, Ariz. Following the morning match, Memphis will take on the 44th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils at 1:30 a.m. (PT).

"We are excited to get back to playing matches after a 10 day break," said Memphis head coach Lee Taylor Walker. "Both teams will provide tests for our team on Wednesday. Arizona State is a top 50 team and will offer our girls another chance to compete against an elite program."

The Lady Tigers enter Wednesday's matches with a 6-10 overall mark. Memphis last played on Feb. 27, picking up a loss against No. 36 Oklahoma and a 6-0 victory over Arkansas Tech.

Ashley Murdock leads the U of M with an overall singles mark of 9-7 coming into Wednesday. Murdock, a back-to-back All-C-USA selection, picked up a win at No. 1 singles against No. 15 Arkansas on Feb. 26. The Memphis netter also had a win over then-87th-rated netter, Stephanie Kent of Yale. Yale is currently rated as the 31st-best team in the nation.

Courtney Collins, a freshman from Fulton, Miss., should return to the lineup on Wednesday after missing several matches due to illness. Collins comes into the matches with a 7-6 singles record.

In doubles, the Memphis pair of Murdock and Marjorie Ondeck come into Wednesday with a 5-8 doubles mark.

Arizona State is led in singles by 104th-ranked Kelcy McKenna at the No. 1 slot. McKenna has a 6-3 record on the season. Two of the Sun Devil netter's losses have come to opponents ranked among the top 20 singles players in the nation, including No. 1 Irina Falconi of Georgia Tech.

Eastern Arizona College comes into Wednesday's dual with a 3-0 record after picking up victories over Pima Community College, Scottsdale Community College and Mesa Community College. The Gila Monsters are a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I university and are members of the Arizona Community College Athletic Association.