Sept. 11, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team is set to compete in its first tournament of the 2008 fall season Friday as the Bulldogs head to Montgomery, Ala., for the Fall Blue & Gray Tennis Classic hosted by Auburn University at Montgomery.

The Classic will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-14. AUM will host the matches at the Lagoon Park Tennis Complex along with the AUM Tennis Complex.

Some of the top teams in the nation among all divisions will be participating. Teams from NCAA D-I include Clemson, Troy, New Orleans, Memphis, Samford and South Alabama. NCAA D-II powerhouses West Florida, North Alabama and Columbus State will participate, as will the men's and women's defending NAIA Champions from AUM.

Samford heads into the 2008-09 season boasting four returning players from last year's squad which won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship. The Bulldogs earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament and will be led this season by sophomores Rebecca Kirven, Lindsey Mallory, Andrie Meiring and Taylor Morgan.

This year, Samford will also boast the services of true freshmen Jessica Diamond, Beth Erwin and Karen Niszl, as well as talented transfers from Middle Tennessee Shannon Hartmann and Stephanie Parkison.

The doubles for all men's matches will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m., at Lagoon Park followed by the women's first round of doubles. The second round of doubles will follow and will also be played at Lagoon.

The singles draw for women will begin at 2 p.m., Friday and will be played at Lagoon Park, while the men's singles draw will begin at the same time, but will be played at AUM.

The action Saturday will begin at 1 p.m., as the doubles finals for the men will be played at AUM and the women's doubles will be played at Lagoon.

On Sunday, the singles finals will be held for both the men and women at Lagoon Park. They will begin at 9 a.m. Admission at both sites is free.