Friday, January 22, 2010

RICHMOND, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2010) - After multiple weeks of grueling practice the ETSU women's tennis team's 2010 season finally gets underway this weekend as head coach Steve Brooks' Lady Bucs swing into action with an 11:00 a.m., contest Saturday inside the Greg Adams Indoor Tennis Center in Richmond, Ky.

The Lady Bucs (0-0) open play after being picked second in the Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Preseason Poll two weeks ago. Individually, senior Yevgenyia Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine), enters the match after the league honored her as the Preseason Player of the Year. Stupak - who is currently ranked 10th regionally by the ITA - had a strong fall after posting a 13-4 record with wins over players from six nationally ranked teams.

In addition to the singles ranking, the reigning A-Sun Player of the Year was also tabbed in doubles with junior teammate Kelly Holtzhausen (Johannesburg, South Africa). The ETSU duo is currently ranked ninth in the Ohio Valley Region, after posting an 8-5 record back in the fall.

EKU (0-0) begins the season on Friday with their first dual match against in-state rival Louisville. After their quick one-match road swing the Colonels - who are the defending Ohio Valley Conference Champions - welcome the Lady Bucs.

Saturday's contest should be a familiar one for ETSU after both the Lady Bucs and EKU competed at the ITA Regional and Kentucky Invitational together last fall. Last season ETSU dropped its only contest to the Colonels 5-2.

For more information on the ETSU women's tennis team please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.