Oct. 27, 2008

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. - Ashley Murdock and Marjorie Ondeck, two juniors for the Memphis women's tennis team, advanced as far as the semifinal round of doubles at the ITA Southeast Regional in Winston Salem, N.C. Murdock and Ondeck went 4-1 in doubles at the tournament which featured some of the best competitors for the best teams in the southeast region.

"It was a really good weekend for our tennis program," said Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker. "The way that Marjorie and Ashley played really brought a lot of confidence to the program. It also brought Marjorie and Ashley a lot of confidence knowing now that they can beat and play with some of the best players in the southeast region. We were a point or two away from those two individuals having the same results they had in doubles in their singles matches, which is also very encouraging. it is nice to end the fall season with such a good showing."

In the semifinal round, Murdock and Ondeck fell to N.C State's Berkeley Brock and Lenka Hojckova, 8-1. North Carolina State finished last season ranked No. 36 in the nation. Brock and Hojckova beat doubles team's from no. 17 North Carolina, No. 13 Clemson, No. 39 Louisville and Campbell on their way to the finals of the ITA regional.

In the quarterfinals, Murdock and Ondeck upended UNC Greensboro's team of Alejandra Guerra and Arielle Vonstrolley, 8-6. Guerra and Vonstrolley had defeated duo's from East Carolina, Vanderbilt and North Carolina before facing off with the Tigers' double team.

Murdock and Ondeck finished the season with a doubles record of 8-6 in the fall. The doubles partners put up a record of 9-7 in the spring of 2008. Ondeck is in her third season as a member of the Memphis Lady Tigers' tennis squad. The native of Monroe, Ct., was the second on the team in doubles wins last season with 16. Murdock is in her second season at the University of Memphis. The native of Memphis who attended St. Agnes Academy, was a Second Team All-C-USA honoree in her first season for Lee Taylor Walker's U of M squad. Murdock spent her first one-and-a-half seasons at LSU before returning home to play tennis in the Bluff City.

Memphis will wrap up the fall season next weekend at the ULM Invitational in Monroe, La.