April 4, 2002

BIRMINGHAM - The UAB men's and women's tennis teams will play host to South Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia State this weekend. The women's team will take on Georgia State Friday in a 2 p.m. tilt at the Brook Highland Racquet Club. The men will host 39th-ranked South Alabama Sunday at 1 p.m. and Louisiana-Lafayette Monday at 2 p.m. at the Lakeshore Foundation Tennis Facility.

The UAB women's team is 7-8 on the season and 4-1 in Conference USA play. The Blazers are coming off a 2-1 spring break trip in Bermuda. UAB notched wins against C-USA schools, Memphis and Cincinnati, but fell to 58th-ranked Brown in their last match of the week. Senior Monika Schmid dominates on the court for the Blazers with a 10-5 singles record and a 10-3 doubles record with partner Femke deBoer. Schmid went 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles during spring break.

The 58th-ranked UAB men's team is coming off a loss to 17th-ranked Auburn Wednesday night, snapping a three-match winning streak. Previously, the Blazers knocked off DePaul, Charlotte and Davidson. Senior Andre van der Merwe garnered the only point for UAB against the Tigers defeating 36th-ranked Tiago Ruffoni, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7-0). Van der Merwe, partnered with George Dubrava also won in the No. 2 doubles slot, improving their dual-match record to 12-3 on the season.