Jan. 30, 2009

Match Notes in PDF Format

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 23 University of Tennessee women's tennis team (2-0) will finish off its season-opening four-match road swing when it competes in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff Weekend at the University of Miami in Coral Gables over the next two days. The winner from each of the 15 host sites will earn a berth into the ITA National Indoor Finals in Madison, Wis., Feb. 12-15.

The Lady Volunteers will open the competition against No. 28 Virginia (2-0) at 2 p.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Sat., Jan. 31. The winner of that contest will then take on the victor between No. 13 Miami (3-0) and No. 47 Utah (1-1) at 1 p.m. the following day, while the losers will square off at 10 a.m.

The Big Orange opened the dual-match portion of its 2009 schedule with a pair of road wins over Big Ten foes last weekend, downing No. 37 Illinois, 4-3, on Saturday before taking out Purdue, 6-1, the following day. Freshman Natalie Pluskota came through in the clutch in both contests, recording the match-clinching singles victory for both wins. Sophomore Jennifer Meredith also picked up a pair of singles triumphs over the weekend, while the two players joined forces to go 2-0 in doubles play as well.

UT's first opponent, Virginia, jumped 13 spots in the ITA poll this past week, moving up to No. 28 after defeating Old Dominion and No. 25 TCU at home by scores of 6-1 and 4-3. The Cavaliers feature a pair of ranked singles players in No. 42 Jennifer Stevens and No. 82 Emily Fraser. Stevens has amassed a 10-9 singles record this season, while Fraser holds a 15-5 mark. The two players also combine to form the No. 32-rated doubles team in the nation as well, with a record of 8-5 thus far into the 2008-09 campaign.

Live scoring for this weekend's contests will be available at both www.HurricaneSports.com and www.UTLadyVols.com.

The Orange and White will return home for the first time this season next weekend, when it welcomes the Cavaliers to Rocky Top for a rematch at 1 p.m. at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sat., Feb. 8.