The 19th Annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic Begins Friday
9/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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Beginning this Friday, the University of Alabama women’s tennis team will host the 19th Annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic at the new Alabama Tennis Complex.
Ten teams, including Alabama, will comprise the field. Auburn, Auburn-Montgomery, Birmingham-Southern, Georgia State, Mississippi State, Samford, Louisville, South Alabama and Texas Tech all round out the field of competitors. Sixty-five athletes are scheduled to compete in the three-day tournament.
“This is a great tournament and the state of Alabama is well represented,” said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz.
The Roberta Alison Classic, named for the Alabama tennis legend that broke gender barriers to compete as UA’s first female varsity athlete, will kick-off the 2004 fall tennis schedule for each of the 10 teams. Coach Mainz is excited to get the new season underway.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our new facility and this year’s team,” said Mainz. “It’s exciting to have our first event at home to open the new season and our new facility.”
Seven players with Roberta Alison championships already under their belts will compete this weekend, including five 2003 champions. In 2003, Alabama’s Mari Muller won the Flight H singles championship and Melissa Minor and Natalie McElveen teamed up for the Flight C doubles title.
Matches will begin each day at 8 a.m. with the doubles championships played on Saturday morning and singles championships played on Sunday morning. The full schedule for the weekend is as follows:
Friday, September 24
First and second round doubles matches begin 8 a.m.
First round singles follow
Saturday, September 25
Doubles playoffs and finals begin at 8 a.m.
Second round of singles follow
Sunday, September 26
Singles playoffs and finals begin at 8 a.m.
