Jan. 25, 2002

The University of Missouri women's tennis team takes part in its first action of the new year with two matches over the weekend. On Saturday, the Tigers will take on Southern Illinois and on Sunday, Southeast Missouri State will battle with Mizzou. The action will be the first matches ever held in the new Green Tennis Center at Mizzou.

Saturday's match with Southern Illinois is set to start at 9 a.m. Sunday's action with Southeast Missouri State will begin at 10 a.m.

Missouri is coming off a strong fall campaign highlighted by the success of the doubles team of freshman Katka Sevcikova and sophomore Urska Juric who won the ITA Central Region Championship and advanced to the National Tournament in Dallas, Texas. They enter the spring season ranked No. 19 in the nation. Individually, Sevcikova is ranked No. 8 and Juric is No. 12 in the Central Region.

Two other Tigers are ranked in the Central Region Singles poll. Freshman Mary Barry is ranked No. 11 and sophomore Cassie Drake is No. 30 in the region. Barry and Drake also team up as MU's other strong doubles duo.

Following this weekend's action, Missouri will host Nebraska on Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in the Green Tennis Center at Mizzou.