Nov. 2, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Memphis Invite Draw Sheets

Just three weeks after hosting the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, the Memphis women's tennis team will once again take the court at The Racquet Club, this time hosting the Memphis Collegiate Invitational. The event, which gets underway Friday, features five teams, all of whom finished last season ranked in the top 40, in addition to the Tigers.

"I can tell the team is excited to play at home again this weekend at the Racquet Club," said Memphis head coach Lee Taylor Walker. "We had a lot of success here hosting Regionals, and I know we will have some solid results this weekend as well. We have had the best week of practice of the entire semester, and that's unusual for this time of year. It shows me and the rest of the staff what a special team we have."

The Tigers are almost through their fall schedule with just this weekend's event and a tournament in Florida next weekend remaining on the docket. Senior Mariya Slupska and junior Courtney Collins have continued to impress this fall after each turning in solid campaigns last spring. Sophomore Stefanie Mikesz has also emerged as one of the Tigers' top threats. Newcomers Alyssa Hibberd, a freshman from Tasmania, and Tiffany Welcher, a senior transfer from Alabama, have added several wins for the Tigers this fall, advancing to the doubles final in four fall tournaments thus far.

This week's competition will present some challenges for the Tigers as all five teams coming in were ranked in the top 40 of the final USTA/ITA team rankings last spring. Tulsa (No. 21), Arkansas (No. 22), Alabama (No. 28), Arizona (No. 35) and Ole Miss (No. 40) will all be looking to rack up victories and rankings points as the fall winds down.

"We have a strong field of teams here this week," said Walker. "This tournament will reveal where we stack up with the best teams in the country. Great tennis will be played all day so we want to encourage all tennis fans to come out and watch."

Play will begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. on the indoor courts with the first two rounds of doubles action. Matches will then move outdoors for the rest of the weekend with play continuing Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday.