Marshall University Athletics
Herd Tennis Ready for First Fall Tournament
9/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 15, 2005
Williamsburg, Va. - The Marshall Thundering Herd tennis team hits the courts for the first time this fall when it plays in the William and Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va.
After graduating five players from last season's team, the Herd has a new look this year with one senior, Holly Asel, junior transfer Lynzee Kever from Colorado, three sophomores, Shannon Brown, Alizee Paradis and Jeanne Schwartz and freshmen Kellie Schmitt, Jessica Keener, Karolina Soor and Jess Holland.
The William and Mary Invitational is one of the top tournaments in the nation with several top ranked teams participating. The field this season includes 10 teams ranked in the final ITA Top 75 from last spring, including three teams in the top 20.
"We're really looking forward to getting started and playing a quality tournament in the first weekend," Marshall head coach John Mercer said. "Our returners are looking good and our freshmen are looking forward to representing Marshall. I think everyone is finally ready to start playing other competition."
Marshall won four-straight Mid-American Conference titles and has made four-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Herd is now in Conference USA and looking to continue its run of NCAA appearances.
"This is a really good tournament with a lot of strong teams," Mercer said. "We'll get a good feel this weekend for what we need to work on and where we want to be. Hopefully, we'll get off to a good start and use it to build on the rest of the year."
Play begins at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, then at 9 a.m. Sunday. Herdzone. com will post results at the end of the day once made available.
NOTES: The William and Mary Invitational began in 1993 and has become one of the top college women's tennis tournaments on the East Coast ... This season the event features seven singles players and five doubles teams in the current national rankings ... Sixteen teams have individuals in Williamsburg this weekend, including 10 that ended last season nationally ranked (No. 11 North Carolina, No. 17 Duke, No. 20 William and Mary, No. 41 Maryland, No. 54 Virginia Commonwealth, No. 57 Penn, No. 61 Texas Tech, No. 67 Marshall, No. 69 Winthrop and No. 75 Arkansas) ... This year the tournament will feature 110 singles players and 53 doubles teams.
Players Mentioned
