04/10/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USA WOMEN'S TENNIS TO CLOSE OUT 2006 HOME SCHEDULE WITH PAIR OF MATCHES VERSUS IN-STATE FOES

CONTACT: Kevin Beasley

MOBILE Ala. - The University of South Alabama women's tennis team, ranked 58th in the latest ITA poll will close out its home schedule with a pair of in-state match ups this week at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts. USA will take on Auburn on Tuesday and then face No. 31 Alabama on Wednesday, with both matches scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

The Lady Jags (11-7, 4-0 SBC) are coming off a 6-1 upset of then 59th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette on April 2 in Mobile. USA came out and swept all three doubles matches and then took five of six in singles. Adrianna Solarova, now ranked No. 91 by the ITA, continues to pace the Jags in dual match play, sporting a 14-4 single's record this spring. Solarova has won nine of her last 10 singles matches, including victories over three ranked opponents.

The Tigers enter the match after dropping a pair of matches (at No. 50 Arkansas, 7-0 and vs. No. 61 LSU, 5-2) this past weekend. Auburn is 5-15 on the season and has lost its last six matches under first year head coach Tim Gray. The Tigers are also 0-10 in the SEC and lost to Sun Belt member Troy, 4-3 in Auburn. The Lady Tigers are led by freshman Alex Haney, who is 19-15 overall and 10-10 in dual match play. Haney and her doubles partner Ashley Cowart also pace the club with a doubles record of 13-9 overall and 6-3 in dual match play.

The Lady Tide enters the match this weekend ranked 31st by the ITA and are 9-9, 5-5 SBC on the year. Alabama is coming of a 0-2 performance this past weekend in Fayetteville. UA dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 61 LSU on Friday and then fell, 4-3 to No 50 Arkansas on Sunday. With the loss, the Hogs and the Tide now sit tied for first in the SEC West Division with one match left.

Alabama is paced by a pair of seniors, Robin Stephenson and Ashley Bentley who rank first and second on the all-time career wins list at UA. Stephenson is ranked No. 14 in singles action by the ITA and sports an overall record of 23-9 and 13-5 this spring, while Bentley is ranked 79th and is 23-11 overall, 13-4 this spring. The duo is also No. 20 in doubles play with a 25-6 overall mark and 15-2 in dual play and have won nine straight entering play on Wednesday.

The Tide also dropped a 4-3 decision at SBC member Denver earlier this season.

The South Alabama women will close out their nine-match homestand when USA host in-state foe No. 36 Alabama on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.