Tennis opens SEC home slate with Vanderbilt and Kentucky this weekend

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team is back at home this weekend and set to face Vanderbilt University and the University of Kentucky in their first home Southeastern Conference matches of the season.

The Lady Razorbacks (4-3, 0-2) begin the weekend with a Friday match against the No. 12 Commodores of Vanderbilt (10-2, 2-0) at the Wal-Mart Life and Fitness center in Bentonville at 2:00 p.m. in an effort to play the first outdoor home match of the season.

The Commodores are coming off a 7-0 blanking midweek by Georgia Tech. In SEC play, Vanderbilt swept the Alabama and Auburn last weekend to give them their 2-0 conference record.

Last year against Vanderbilt, senior Vlatka Jovanovic recorded the biggest win of her career at Arkansas with a 6-2, 6-2 win over VU’s No. 8 Audra Faulk. The win came during a stretch in which Jovanovic faced three consecutive SEC opponents ranked in the top eight in the country.

On Sunday, the Lady’Backs come back to the University of Arkansas campus to face the 27th ranked Wildcats of Kentucky (8-6, 1-1) at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

The Wildcats blanked Auburn on Mar. 3, 7-0, but lost at Alabama on Mar. 5, 4-3. Senior Melissa Cornett collected a win for the Lady’Backs last year against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa over Natalie McElveen, 7-6, 3-6, 1-0(2).

“I think we are definitely improving week by week,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “It is a great to be opening our home conference schedule against two quality teams such as Vanderbilt and Kentucky.”

Admission is free to both matches. For more information on Arkansas tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit LADYBACKS.com.

— LADY RAZORBACKS —