April 13, 2000

Tampa, Fla.-- - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (10-9, 3-1) won five of the six singles matches to void a need for doubles play in a 5-1 upset of No. 8 seed Louisville in the first round of the Conference USA Championship, Thursday.

The Lady Tigers face top-seeded Marquette at noon, Friday. Marquette was ranked No. 50 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released Wednesday and had a first-round bye for the league tournament.

Junior Christina Ladyman remains unbeaten against C-USA competition after her 6-2, 6-2 win over Louisville's Kelly Marie Miller at No. 1. She has now won eight of her last nine matches.

Freshman Sabrina Lindemann, who qualifed for the ITA Southeast Regional with Ladyman in the fall, improved her spring overall record to 12-9 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Kelly Ford at No. 2 singles.

This is the second consecutive year that No. 9 seeded Memphis has upset their No. 8 seeded opponent. Last year, Memphis downed Cincinnati to face No. 1 seed Tulane.

In the other morning match, DePaul advanced to a match against No. 3 seed Tulane with a 5-2 win over Saint Louis. Saint Louis trailed just 3-2 following five singles matches and was leading in the remaining match at No. 1 singles, when Courtney Hague twisted her knee and was unable to continue despite coming back from a first set loss to lead 5-2 in the third.

No. 9 Memphis 5, No. 8 Louisville 1

No. 1 Christina Ladyman (UM) def. Kelly Marie Miller (UL), 6-2, 6-2

No. 2 Sabrina Lindemann (UM) def. Kelly Ford (UL), 7-5, 6-2

No. 3 Betsy Card (UM) def. Katie McLaughlin (UL), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

No. 4 Sumitra Rao (UM) def. Kelly Whitler (UL), 6-3, 6-1

No. 5 Melissa San Martin (UL) def. Claire O'Donoghue (UM), 6-3, 6-1

No. 6 Angie Wilkinson (UM) def. Beckett Hoyt (UL), 6-3, 6-2