Lady'Backs Open Season at William & Mary Tribe Classic

FAYETTEVILLE – The Lady Razorback tennis team begins the 2007-08 season by heading to Williamsburg, Virginia, for the William & Mary Tribe Classic on Sept. 14-16.

“This event is a great opener for our team, because it provides us with loads of match play” said head coach Michael Hegarty.

All seven players on the team are in singles action, with six slated for action in doubles play. The tournament style consists of 16 players in each of six flights, and Coach Hegarty has laid out which of his players will be in each flight.

In singles play juniors Ela Kaluder, ranked 25th in the nation, and Aurelija Miseviciute, ranked 119th in the nation, compete in Flight A. In Flight B, senior Maryori Franco is the lone Lady’Back, while senior Audrey Bordeleau and junior Nanar Airapetian play in Flight C. Freshman Delia Damaschin gets her first experience at the collegiate level in Flight D, and sophomore Melissa Hoffmeister rounds out the roster in Flight E.

“This tournament will also help our players improve by playing against some of the more premiere tennis teams in the nation,” Hegarty continued.

Teams competing against the Lady’Backs are Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Boston College, Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, Michigan State, and the home team William & Mary.

In doubles action, Coach Hegarty places two of his three doubles teams in Flight A. The duo of Franco and Airapetian, ranking No. 25 in the nation, and Kaluder and Miseviciute ranking No. 57 respectively, are both in Flight A. Bordeleau and Damaschin are the only Lady’Back doubles team in Flight B.

The Lady’Backs are not new to the William & Mary Tribe Classic making their third trip to Williamsburg in as many years. Last season, Bordeleau won the singles consolation title in Flight B. Two years ago, Miseviciute brought home the Flight A singles title, while Kaluder took the Flight E singles title. After winning their respective singles title, the two teamed up to win the Flight A doubles title.

To find out more on the results of this tournament or other breaking information on the Lady’Backs tennis season, stay tuned to LADYBACKS.com