April 16, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's tennis team will begin play at the Conference USA Tournament at Houston on Thursday when it takes on eighth-seeded East Carolina. The Blazers enter the tournament as the ninth seed after finishing the regular season 9-5 (3-2 C-USA).

The winner of Thursday's ECU- UAB match will advance to play top-seeded Tulsa on Friday.

The Blazers and the Pirates squared off in Puerto Rice earlier this season. East Carolina won that meeting, 5-2.

Marshall earned the No. 2 seed at the championship, while Rice and SMU round out the top four seeds, respectively.

Freshman Jenny Cape leads the Blazers with 14 singles wins this season, while fellow freshman Evelien Strijker is 10-9 on the year, including four wins at No. 1 singles.

Senior Gulsah Esen has posted a 5-5 record at No. 2 singles for the Blazers and another senior, Antonia Nugent, has four wins at No. 3.

UAB has played superior doubles all season long with Cape and senior Seden Soyalp leading the way with a 7-3 record at No. 3 doubles. Esen and freshman Giorgia Romeo are 6-5 at flight two doubles.