JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 28, 2009) - After playing in multiple ITA ranked fall tournaments the ETSU women's tennis team opens its 2009 season as they travel to face regional rival Eastern Kentucky, Thursday at the Adams Indoor Tennis Center in Richmond, Ky.

The Bucs look for big things this season as they were recently picked as the Atlantic Sun Conference favorite to win both the regular season and tournament championships. Individually, junior Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) was also tabbed as the A-Sun preseason women's Player of the Year by the leagues coaches. Stupak finished the fall season with a remarkable 12-3 singles record, winning the USC Upstate Fall Bracket, UNC/Duke Kitty Harrison Invitational and Virginia Tech Fall Classic.

Eastern Kentucky enters the contest winning two of its first three matches of the season. The Colonels dropped Wright State 7-0, and Xavier 4-3, before losing last Sunday to 32nd-ranked Ohio State, 7-0. Individually, seniors Svetlana Pimenova and Alexandra Sitnikova lead the way after both upperclassmen earned All-OVC honors a year ago.

For more information on ETSU athletics and the women's tennis program please visit www.ETSUBUCS.com. Attached above is the 2009 women's tennis season preview.