Lady'Backs ready for conference tournament

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team is ready for action at the 2006 Southeastern Conference in Gainesville, Fla. April 20-23.

After the best regular season in four years, the Lady Razorbacks (10-9, 5-6) are scheduled to open tournament play against the Louisiana State Tigers (11-11, 3-8) Wednesday, April 20, at 2:00 p.m.

The Lady’Backs remember well what happened in their last meeting with the Tigers. It was less than a week ago in Baton Rouge. There, LSU came out firing, winning the doubles and fighting off four singles matches that were taken to a third set. The Tigers snapped Arkansas’ six-match winning streak with the 5-2 win.

This time it is Arkansas’s turn to do the upsetting. The Lady’Backs have made an early exit from the conference tournament for the last six years, including a first round defeat by LSU in 2004.

For the first time since the 2000 season, Arkansas has a higher seed than 11th. It is also the first time in five years that the Lady’Backs open the tournament against a lower seeded team. In Arkansas’ first round defeat to LSU in 2004, it was the Tigers who boasted the upper-hand with a five-seed and Western Division crown.

“It is good to get another crack at LSU,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

For more information on Arkansas tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit LADYBACKS.COM.

— LADY RAZORBACKS —