March 20, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team (5-7, 0-0 C-USA) will face its first Conference USA opponent of the season, Friday, when UAB (8-1, 3-0 C-USA) rolls in to town. The C-USA match will be played on the outdoor courts at Rhodes College and will begin at 2 p.m.

The Blazers will present a formidable challenge for the Tigers as UAB has won seven straight matches heading in to Friday afternoon's match-up. UAB is the No. 45 ranked team in the country in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls.

Memphis is looking to snap a five-match losing streak that includes five road matches at ranked opponents. In the Tigers' last home match, Memphis defeated both Nicholls State and Lipscomb University to improve to 5-1 at home in the early part of the season. This will be the Tigers' first home outdoor match after playing all their indoor matches at WellWorx to begin the spring season.

Freshman Leon Nasemann has the team's best singles mark of the dual season, sporting an 8-2 record, including a 5-1 mark at No. 2 and a 3-1 mark at No. 3 singles. He won his last match at Oklahoma, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, at No. 2 singles. He also teamed with Jimmy Khougassian at No. 2 doubles for a victory in a 5-2 Tiger loss.

Fellow freshman Michael Gaerthoeffner is right behind Nasemann, with an 8-4 mark in singles since dual play started. Gaertheoffner, who leads the team with 16 singles wins on the season, is 6-2 at No. 4 singles and 2-2 at No. 2.

Junior Benedikt Fischer is the only other Tiger with a winning singles record in dual season play. Fischer also won his last outing at Oklahoma, 6-7, 7-5, 1-0, and is now 6-3 for the year at the No. 6 singles slot. Fischer is also 4-2 at No. 3 doubles when teamed with freshman Jordan Smith, who joined the Tigers in January.

Admission for the match is free, but fans are asked to check in with Rhodes security at the entrance to the university for parking as instructed by the Rhodes security personnel on duty.