June 14, 2001

Memphis, Tenn.-- - Despite a losing record, the University of Memphis women's tennis team made an impression on the voters in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association by playing a difficult schedule which included teams that were nationally- ranked at year's end. For their efforts, the Lady Tigers finished 2001 ranked 12th in the Southeast Region.

The Lady Tigers were 1-2 against other teams from the region that were ranked in the top 10, including a 4-1 win over nationally-ranked No. 67 Campbell and a 4-3 loss to No. 70 Tennessee Tech, teams which ranked 10th and 13th in the region according to the ITA.

In all, Memphis faced eight regionally-ranked teams and finished the season as one of seven Conference USA teams ranked in the top 15 in their respective regions.

Memphis loses two seniors from the 2001 squad that finished 11-15. Senior Christina Ladyman leaves Memphis with 94 career singles win, the second-highest single season total in school history. Also graduating is senior Betsy Card, who was a steady contributor at No. 3 singles throughout her Tiger career.

Memphis will return four of the six singles players from 2001, including Sabrina Lindemann, Sumitra Rao, Annika Westberg and Rebecca Garner. Also returning will be senior Laura Hughes. Both Hughes and Lindemann earned Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medals after posting a GPA above 3.75 for the 2000-2001 year.