The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Tennis Faces Busy Week
2/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 11, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Both the UAB men's and women's tennis teams face a hectic week.
The No. 66-ranked men's team (2-2) continues facing in-state schools this week, by hosting Birmingham Southern and North Alabama at Brook Highland Racquet Club this week. The Blazers take on Birmingham Southern on Wednesday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m. The following day, Thursday, February 13, UAB hosts the University of North Alabama at 1:30 p.m. in a match that was rained out on February 6.
Birmingham Southern opens its 2003 spring season versus UAB. Michael Metz is in his first year as head coach of the Panthers and returns six letterwinners from last year's squad. In 2002, BSC finished its first full season of NCAA Division I competition with a 13-6 overall record and 4-3 mark against the Big South Conference. North Alabama will be seeing its first action of the 2003 season season this week against the Blazers. The Lions return two lettermen from last year's squad that finished the 2002 season with a 10-6 record, placing them third in the Gulf South Conference. UNA qualified for the NCAA Regionals for the sixth time since 1995, advancing to the second round.
The UAB women's team (0-2) faces a big endurance test this week, facing four opponents in four days. On Wednesday, February 12, the Blazers play at Birmingham Southern at 2 p.m. On Friday, February 14, UAB starts a weekend homestand, hosting Murray State at 4 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the Blazers host C-USA foes, Southern Miss and Houston. USM and UAB battle on Saturday, February 15, at 10 a.m., while the Cougars and the Blazers face each other on Sunday, February 16, at 1 p.m.
Birmingham Southern begins its 2003 spring season by hosting UAB. In 2002, the Panthers competed in NCAA Division I for the first time, finishing 15-4 overall and 6-1 in the Big South Conference. Five letterswinners return from the 2002 squad. Murray State comes to Birmingham after falling to No. 23 Kentucky, 7-0, on February 1, dropping the Racers to 0-1 on the season. Murray State finished 17-10 last season and fell in the first round of the NCAA Championship to No. 6 Vanderbilt, 5-0. Southern Miss comes to town with 2-2 record. The Golden Eagles face Samford on February 14 before taking on the Blazers. On February 8, USM defeated Northwestern State, 5-2. Southern Miss scored straight set wins at the No. 5 and 6 singles and won the No. 3 doubles 8-3 to swing the match. The Cougars of Houston fell to 2-3, 0-1 in C-USA, after losing to LSU, 7-0, on February 10. Houston won at No. 2 doubles, when Sarah Flood and Kami Miller were awarded the win after LSU's Camila Caliari and Daysi Espinal retired the match.
