Jan. 29, 2011

Kick-Off Weekend Notes

By Donnie Conley, Media Relations Student Assistant

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 12-ranked University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team will play its first matches at the newly-renovated Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center this weekend as it hosts the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Sunday and Monday.

During the offseason, two courts were added to the facility, giving the program a full complement of six. Courts were also re-surfaced and the seating area was modified.

Action will begin Sunday at 10 a.m. with a contest between No. 17 Ole Miss and No. 28 SMU. The Rebels, picked to finish second in the SEC East and third overall by the league's coaches, bring a very experienced squad into Knoxville, led by No. 21-ranked Kristi Boxx.

SMU, meanwhile, is ranked No. 27 in the Campbell/ITA poll and boasts the nation's second-rated player, Marta Lesniak. The Mustangs enter this weekend 3-0 after a 7-0 sweep of Texas-San Antonio in their last contest. RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE

Tennessee will take to its home court for the first time in the 2011 season at 2 p.m. on Sunday against No. 33 Ohio State (1-0). The Big Orange boasts a 12-1 record against the Buckeyes all-time. Tennessee has also been remarkably successful in home openers under co-head coaches Mike Patrick and Sonia Hahn-Patrick, posting a 22-1 mark under Patrick and a 12-1 record under Hahn-Patrick.

UT will be looking to build on its impressive win at No. 25 Illinois on Sunday. Tennessee dropped the doubles point but was able to persevere and take four of six singles matches en route to a 4-3 victory. Freshman Brynn Boren earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for her play.

The losers of Sunday's contests will face off in a consolation match at 10 a.m. Monday. The winners will play at 2 p.m. with a trip to the ITA Division I National Women's Team Indoor Championship, held in Charlottesville, Va., from Feb. 18-21.

Live scoring will be available for all of the Kick-Off Weekend matches on UTLadyVols.com.

Fans are reminded to follow the Lady Vols on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UTLadyVols.