Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Tennis prepares for showdown with SIU-Edwardsville
02/08/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2010
www.SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): February 14
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site(s): Sports Blast Sports Complex
Head Coaches: Audra Nothwehr (28-23 overall and at SIU); Kyler Updyke (6-15 overall and at SIUE) - Division I only
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Ame Blacketer (Graduate Assistant); Fadzai Mawisire
NET NOTES
The Southern Illinois Women's Tennis team is in its 35th year of existence... Head Coach Audra Nothwehr is in her third season with the team and holds a 28-23 (.549) mark with the Salukis... Last season, SIU finished with a 17-8 record and were 5-3 in MVC play, finishing third... The Salukis advanced to the MVC Tournament semi-finals before bowing out to Northern Iowa... The Salukis 17-8 record was their best since 2000, when they finished with a 16-6 mark (.727).
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The Salukis open their home schedule with a Valentine's Day match against the Cougars of SIU-Edwardsville. The match - which is the first of four men's/women's doubleheaders this season - is slated to begin at 10 a.m at the Sports Blast Sports Complex in Carbondale.
SCOUTING SIU-EDWARDSVILLE
The Cougars come into the 2010 season returning six players from last year's squad. SIU-Edwardsville - in only their second year at the Division I level - is led by former Cougar men's tennis standout Kyler Updyke. The team is led on the court by seniors Kelsey Laird and Amanda Niebur and junior Ali Wulfers, who totaled 53 percent of the team's singles wins during the 2009 spring season.
NOTHWEHR NOTCHES HISTORIC MARK
Saluki head coach Audra Nothwehr eclipsed a historic mark in program history on Jan. 30, as she coached her 50th match at SIU in her career when the Dawgs faced Eastern Kentucky. Nothwehr becomes only the second coach in SIU women's tennis history to have coached 50 or more matches. The only other coach to have passed that mark is the legendary Judy Auld, who amassed 837 matches coached in her 30 seasons at the helm.
DOUBLES DOMINANCE
Despite falling in all three matches to open the season, the Saluki women looked impressive in doubles during the road trip. The team also sported three different doubles pairs from last season - each of which had a freshman playing. Tops among the teams were Jessica Flannery and Jennifer Dien, who went 1-2 and only lost their two doubles matches by a combined three games.
TOUGH BREAK
Freshman Melanie Delsart was faced with a difficult task in her first spring match of her collegiate career when she was paired with No. 68 Marshall's Michaela Kissell. Not only was Kissell ranked fourth in the ITA's Atlantic region, but she was also rated as the 35th best singles player in the nation.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
For the 2009-2010 season, the Salukis feature players from three continents and five different nations. Among the different countries are Argentina, Brazil, India, and South Africa.
