Lady'Backs appear In FILA Preseason Rankings

FAYETTEVILLE — Junior Ela Kaluder opens the 2007-08 season preseason ranked 25th in the nation as three University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks are part of the preseason FILA College Tennis Rankings.

Teammates senior Maryori Franco and junior Nanar Airapetian appeared in the poll at No. 25 in doubles. Also, Aurelija Miseviciute is ranked No. 119 in singles; she and Kaluder pair up and are ranked No. 57 in doubles.Kaluder spent all of last season on court one as a singles player, where she posted a 15-7 record overall, leading the Lady’Backs in singles wins. Kaluder was the only Lady’Back player to be selected to the NCAA Individual Tournament during last season, while also receiving the Central Region Player to Watch award by the ITA. Franco and Airapetian were solid in doubles play last season for the Lady’Backs posting a 14-7 overall, but more impressive, a 6-5 conference record. The tandem was the first to post a winning conference record in doubles action since Michael Hegarty became head coach in 2004. Franco and Airapetian were selected as third-seeded alternates before last season’s NCAA Doubles Tournament.

Miseviciute finished the 2007 spring season with an overall record of 3-1, all on court two, and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play.

Although Kaluder and Miseviciute played together in doubles only once last season, their talent obviously impressed the ITA to earn a No. 57 overall rank for doubles.

The Lady’Backs tennis team will begin play on September 14-16 at the William & Mary Tribe Classic in Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information on this years upcoming tennis season stay tuned to LADYBACKS.com