Lady'Back netters hit the road in Music City

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team puts last weeks’ practice to the test in a return to Southeastern Conference action at No. 5 Vanderbilt Friday. The Lady Razorbacks, 10-4 overall and 0-4 in league play, spent Spring Break on the road in Santa Barbara, Calif., getting outside for some much-needed outdoor court time. Arkansas was supposed to face UCSB in a non-conference title but rains kept the teams off the court. "We can’t wait to get back on the court," said head coach Michael Hegarty. "We have had some great practices this week and that was the purpose for going west. We wanted to get outside and work really hard before playing outside in conference matches. We know we have an uphill battle ahead of us with a lot of road matches coming up, but we feel prepared. We get better every time we play and I think we’re moving in the right direction." Arkansas returns to action against the Commodores who have lost two of their last three falling to 13-2 on the year. The Vanderbilt match is the first of six consecutive SEC matches, five of which are on the road, as the Lady Razorbacks reach the mid-point of the 2005 campaign. Arkansas opened the year with 10 consecutive non-conference wins but the offense stalled when league play began and the Lady’Backs have fallen to No. 24 South Carolina, No. 15 Florida, No. 23 Tennessee and No. 2 Georgia in their last four contests. "We have a little more than half of the SEC schedule remaining and we really want to make a run on some teams," said Hegarty. "I’m excited about getting back on the court and seeing what we can do." The Lady Razorbacks find themselves paced by junior Katrina Ledaja with a 10-1 mark this spring. Ledaja is one of four Lady’Backs in double-digit wins this year helping Arkansas to a No. 55 national ranking this week. The Lady Razorbacks next travel to fourth-ranked Kentucky on Sunday, March 27, followed by road matches in the Magnolia State at No. 36 Mississippi State April 1, and at No. 51 Mississippi April 3. Arkansas’ season continues at No. 30 Alabama April 8, followed by a match at No. 70 Auburn April 10. Arkansas wraps up the regular season with a final home match against No. 41 Louisiana State April 16, at 1:00 p.m. For more information about Arkansas tennis log on to LADYBACKS.COM.