Lady'Backs ready for No. 8 USC at ITA Team Indoor Championship

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback tennis team is looking to make a statement in Madison, Wisc.

Michael Hegarty’s 39th-ranked Lady’Backs swing back into action against their toughest opponent so far this season, No. 8 ranked Southern California, in Thursday’s

9 a.m. opening round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Team Indoor Championship.

“We are ready for the challenge of facing a high caliber team like USC,” Hegarty said.

USC, 4-0, features two player’s in the ITA top 100 singles rankings, Amanda Fink (51st) and Gabriela Niculescu (78th), However, Arkansas will counter USC’s talent with the No. 1 ranked singles player, Aurelija Miseviciute.

In doubles, Fink and Niculescu combine to form the No. 5 ranked doubles duo in the nation, while the Lady’Backs feature two doubles teams in the ITA rankings with Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder at No. 12 and Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian slated at No. 45, which should make for exciting tennis action Thursday.

Coming off a 5-2 victory over Kansas on Saturday, Hegarty believes the Lady’Backs have had some excellent days of practice before their trip to Wisconsin.

“I feel that our preparation has been excellent, and our team has been working hard in hopes of making a run in the tournament.”

USC defeated No. 17 Pepperdine 5-2 in their most recent match.

The winner of this match will face the winner of No.4 Georgia Tech and No. 14 North Carolina, Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m.

Immediate results from the Lady’Backs match on Thursday can be found on LADYBACKS.COM.