Jan. 28, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee women's tennis team will host the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend set to take place Jan. 29-30 at the Goodfriend Tennis Center on the UT campus.

The Lady Volunteers (2-0) welcome No. 21 Vanderbilt (2-0), 27th-ranked TCU (0-0) and No. 30 Texas (1-0). Tennessee comes into the weekend rated No. 11 in the latest ITA poll, holding steady since the previous poll released in early January.

Tennessee opens the weekend against Texas on Fri., Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. The last meeting between the teams was on March 15, 2006 in Knoxville, when a 25th-ranked Lady Vol squad upset the then-No. 11 and defending NCAA National finalist Longhorns, 5-2.

The Big Orange, looking to continue its strong doubles play from last weekend, is led by the nation's top-ranked pairing of senior Caitlin Whoriskey and sophomore Natalie Pluskota. The duo currently holds a season record of 14-1. It is followed by the tandems of junior Rosalía Alda and senior Zsófia Zubor and sophomore Katie Lee and junior Maria Sorbello, both of which are 2-0 in dual-match play.

Whoriskey, ranked sixth in singles, will defend the top lineup spot for the Lady Vols and look to push her win streak to four matches in a row, while Zubor is set to go for her ninth-straight singles win. Both are coming off straight-set victories against opponents from East Tennessee State. Sorbello, ranked No. 51 by the ITA, enters the match with a 1-1 record for the 2010 season.

The opening match of the Knoxville section of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend features TCU taking on Vanderbilt on Fri., Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. The winners from Friday's contests will meet for the championship at 2 p.m. the following day. The winner of that match earns a trip to the National Team Indoors in Madison, Wis., Feb. 11-14. The consolation match for this weekend's competition will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Live scoring will be available for all matches at www.UTLadyVols.com. Admission to the event is free.

About the ITA Kick-Off Weekend: The second annual ITA Men's and Women's Kick-Off Weekend will take place January 29 - February 1, 2010 at select campus host sites. This year's Kick-Off Weekend Draft took place June 3-4 as teams selected which route they would take to get to the 2010 ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

The ITA Kick-Off Weekend features 15 men's and 15 women's host sites with four teams at each site vying to advance to the Team Indoor Championships. The 15 men's teams to win both of their matches at these events will be invited to play in the Feb. 11-14 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Boar's Head Sports Club (hosted by the Univ. of Virginia) while the 15 women's teams to win both of their matches will be invited to play in the Feb. 11-14 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium (hosted by the Univ. of Wisconsin).

The No. 1 team at each site will face the No. 4 team. The No. 2 team will face the No. 3 team. Two matches are guaranteed - the winners/losers will play the following day.

For more information on the ITA Kick-Off Weekend and all events taking place throughout the second annual event, please visit www.itatennis.com.