Feb. 13, 2002

BIRMINGHAM - The UAB women's tennis team will host 52nd-ranked Mississippi State Friday at 2 p.m. and Central Florida at 11 a.m. Saturday. Both matches will be played at Brook Highland Racquet Club.

Mississippi State is 3-3 on the season and are coming off two losses to two nationally ranked teams. The Bulldogs fell 6-1 to 38th-ranked Miami (Fla.) and 6-1 to 32nd-ranked Florida International. The only Lady Dog above a .500 dual match winning percentage is sophomore Camila Sage who is 4-2 on the season with a 2-0 record at the No. 1 spot and 2-2 record at the No. 2 spot. The Blazers are 1-5 against MSU while Ertunga has been coaching.

Central Florida is 4-1 this season with its only loss coming from 35th-ranked Florida State. The Knights are getting some good play from their younger players as freshman Kristina Lohmos and sophomore Julie Pecastaing are both a perfect 5-0 on the season. The Blazers have lost the last two meetings with UCF and look for revenge this weekend.

The Blazers are 0-2 on the season, falling to Troy State 6-1 and 4-3 to Tennessee-Chatanooga. The loss to Troy State was the first loss since Mert Ertunga became the head coach nine seasons ago. Senior Monika Schmid is 2-0 on the season laying at the No. 1 spot.

UAB's match against Central Florida will be a double header with the men's team who will host Tennessee-Chatanooga. The men's tennis team was originally scheduled to play at the Lakeshore Foundation Tennis Facility, but have moved the match to Brook Highland due to the resurfacing of the tennis courts. The men's match will begin at 2 p.m.