Marshall University Athletics
Herd Tennis Hosts Louisville and N.C. State This Weekend
Marshall Kicks Off Eight-match Homestand
2/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Herd Tennis Hosts Louisville and N.C. State This Weekend
Marshall Kicks Off Eight-match Homestand
2/3/2005
Senior All-American and Louisville, Ky., native Ashley Kroh practices in preparation for this weekend's matches Thursday afternoon. Kroh will get a chance to square off against her hometown school Friday afternoon at the Huntington Tennis Club. Photo by Matt Riley |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The No. 59 ranked Marshall University women's tennis team hits the court again this weekend when it plays host to the University of Louisville, Friday and North Carolina State on Sunday.
The Thundering Herd heads into battle against the Cardinals at 5 p.m. Friday at the Huntington Tennis Club. Louisville enters the contest with a 6-1 record and Marshall is 2-1 on the season.
Both the Cardinals and the Herd picked up their only loss on the season to No. 14 ranked Kentucky on Jan. 25, in Lexington, Ky.
"I think we've responded well and worked hard to improve on things since the UK match," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. "Louisville is a much improved, athletic team. They hit hard and are very aggressive. I know they're ready to play us and excited for the opportunity to try and knock us off. We'll be ready for a very tough, competitive match."
Last season, Marshall downed the Cardinals, 7-0 in Louisville.
Marshall will then face North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference Sunday at noon. This will be the Wolfpack's first set of dual matches on the season. N.C. State competed in the Georgia Invitational in January, but have no record in dual meets because matches with Western Carolina and Appalachian State were cancelled due to inclement weather.
"N.C. State is a good program from the ACC that has really grown in the past few years," Mercer said. "They're making a push to become a top national program and they will be another challenging match for us."
The Herd last faced the Wolfpack in 2001 with Marshall taking the 6-1 win in Raleigh, N.C.
Louisville plays N.C. State Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Huntington Tennis Club.
