Friday, 01/27/2012

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 23rd-ranked women’s tennis will open its dual match season on Saturday as the team travels to Nashville to face off against No. 15 Texas in the first match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The Crimson Tide will then take on either No. 17 Vanderbilt or No. 30 Arizona on Sunday. All action will take place at the Currey Tennis Center.

“We’ve got some great opportunities ahead this weekend,” said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. “We face off with Texas first on Saturday morning, and I think it is going to be a dog fight. I think we are two really good, competitive teams. Our team is excited for this chance and has been since we lost 4-3 in the first round of the Kick-Off Weekend last year at Baylor. We learned a lot from that experience.”

Alabama wrapped up its pre-dual match slate with a strong showing at the UVA Invitational. The Tide picked up 24 wins in total at the event. Junior Alexa Guarachi, ranked 43rd, won all three of her matches at the event and was subsequently named singles champion following her victory over Utah senior No. 90 Anastasia Putilina. Guarachi and senior Courtney McLane were named doubles champions for their two victories.

The Longhorns have already begun dual match play and are 1-1 on the season, with an opening 4-3 victory over No. 4 North Carolina and a 4-3 loss to No. 9 Virginia. Texas has a pair of ranked singles players in junior Aeriel Ellis and freshman Noel Scott. Ellis is currently No. 47, while Scott comes in at No. 119.

Alabama and Texas will be meeting for just the second time in program history, with the first meeting taking place during the 1982 season. The Longhorns came away with an 8-1 victory in the match.