April 8, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis women's tennis squad will play their final home match of the season on Thur., April 9, against Arkansas State at the University of Memphis Tennis Courts at 1 p.m. The Lady Tigers come into the match with a record of nine wins and 10 losses. The U of M is looking to reach the .500 mark with a win. If they do so it will mark the first time in six seasons that the Lady Tigers have produced a record of .500 or better.

"We have been working really hard the last 10 days and our players are playing the best that they ever have," said Memphis head coach Lee Taylor Walker. "We are looking to get another win to add to our eight other wins this season over opponents that have beaten us consistently over the last several years."

Arkansas State has produced a mark of 11-6 this season. The Red Wolves are led by Jenny Herring at the No. 1 position. Herring, a sophomore from Copenhagan, Denmark, has amassed eight wins this season at the top spot for Arkansas State. At the No. 2 spot, Paula Chelminska has produced a 10-4 mark for the Red Wolves.

In doubles, ASU is led by the tandem of Herring and Emily Laing. The pair is 4-2 in doubles this season. Herring has also teamed at the No. 1 position with Tina Ojdanic. The duo has a mark of 1-8.

Memphis enters Thurday's match after having a 10-day break between matches. In their previous match the Lady Tigers came away with their first win in six seasons over Southern Miss. Ashley Murdock, Marjorie Ondeck and Lindsey Wiseman secured singles victories over the Golden Eagles. Murdock, an All-C-USA selection for Memphis last season, is currently boasting a mark of 14-8. Last season Murdock ended the year with a record of 15-4. The junior from Memphis, Tenn., is one win away of reaching her win total from a season ago. This is Murdock's second year in the U of M program after transferring back to her hometown from LSU. Murdock picked up a win over her Arkansas State opponent last season, winning, 7-5, 6-2. The Memphis netters also got a victory from Lindsey Wiseman last season over the Red Wolves. Wiseman is 4-3 this season in singles.

In doubles, Murdock and Ondeck enter Thurday's dual with a mark of seven wins and four losses. Murdock and Ondeck picked up a win over Elja van Berlo and Lauren Gutterman of Southern Miss, 8-5.

Memphis is 0-3 in their last three meetings with Arkansas State. The last time the U of M defeated the Red Wolves was almost a year ago to the date (April 8, 2003) six years prior to Thursday's meeting.

Thursday will also mark the last home match for the lone senior for the Lady Tigers, Kristin Chamberlain. Chamberlain, the daughter of former Memphis men's tennis head coach Phil Chamberlain, has been a part of the Memphis team for two seasons after transferring from Cleveland State. This season, Chamberlain has produced a record of four wins and five losses in singles this season. Last season, her first at Memphis, Chamberlain went 4-12.

The Lady Tigers will wrap up the regular season with matches against Middle Tennessee (April 11) and Tulane (April 14). Following the two road trips Memphis will head to the C-USA Tournament from April 16-19 in Houston, Texas.