Women?s Tennis Begins Season with Roberta Alison Classic
9/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama women’s tennis team will open up its fall campaign this weekend as it plays host to the 21st Annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic.
The tournament is a tribute to the legendary Roberta Alison, who in 1963 became the University’s first female athlete to participate on a men’s varsity team. It was the first official move toward opening the door to women’s varsity athletics at SEC member institutions.
The flighted tournament, held each fall, is a showcase of tennis talent annually bringing in several of the nation’s top tennis powers. This year’s tournament will feature nine teams (Alabama, Auburn, Auburn-Montgomery, Birmingham-Southern, Mississippi State, UNC-Greensboro, Notre Dame, Samford and Vanderbilt) and 70 athletes overall. Seven players with current FILA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings will compete as well as three ranked doubles teams.
For Alabama, this will be its first action of the fall. With the graduation of five players from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad, the Crimson Tide will showcase five freshmen in the tournament in addition to returning players Mari Muller, Andrea Brenes, Shelley Godwin and Sofia Ayala.
“We’re prepared for a big weekend against some good competition,” Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. “Everyone will get to play a lot of matches and this will give us a chance to evaluate where we are.”
Muller is the lone senior on this year’s team and is coming off her best season. In 2006 she finished the season with a career-high 21 victories and was named Second Team All-SEC.
The tournament will begin Friday and run through Sunday at the UA Tennis Complex. Matches will begin at 8 a.m. each morning and admission is free.
