LADY VOL TENNIS OPENS FALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AT HOME

Sept. 20, 2001

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

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Updated Friday 9/21 8:30 p.m. ET

The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer tennis team will host the 2001 St. Mary's Health System Women's Tennis Classic Friday through Sunday. The three-day event will feature teams from Furman, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Purdue and Georgia Tech.

"This is going to be a great tournament," said co-head coach Mike Patrick. "In the first singles flight alone, six out of the eight players are ranked in the ITA's preseason rankings. Our team is looking forward to getting back into match play. Last year's success should serve as a motivator for this group, because they know that everyone will be gunning for them."

Last year, UT finished ranked No. 6 in the final ITA poll with a 25-4 record. The team returns all six starters from that squad and will once again be coached by the husband and wife team of Mike Patrick and Sonia-Hahn Patrick. The pair were named National, Regional and SEC Co-Coaches of the Year a following the 2000-01 season.

Among the returning starters are four ranked singles players and a top-five doubles tandem. Senior Alison Ojeda is ranked No. 16 in singles and teams with junior Crystal Cleveland to hold down the No. 5 doubles slot in the country. Senior Kim Gates is ranked No. 40 while junior Vilmarie Castellvi falls in four spaces behind her at No. 44. Senior Agnes Wiski closes out UT's presence in the singles ranks at No. 81.

The tourney will be played on both the Varsity Courts and at the Goodfriend Tennis Center, with matches set to begin at 9 a.m. each day.