Jan. 29, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
IRVING, Texas - Conference USA tennis action contined last weekend with most teams beginning their spring dual match seasons. Six C-USA teams remain ranked in the latest ITA rankings. Tulsa leads the men's rankings, coming in at No. 23, while Rice is No. 41 and SMU is No. 47. On the women's side, Tulsa is also tops at No. 44, followed by Marshall (No. 51) and SMU (No. 60).
WOMEN"S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1/29)
Kellie Schmitt - Marshall
Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa. (Bethel Park H.S.)
Schmitt, ranked No. 19 in the latest ITA rankings, went a pefect 2-0 in both singles and doubles at the No. 1 position to lead her team to wins over No. 39 Virginia and Richmond. The junior cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 against UVA's Jennifer Stevens and paired with Karolina Soor to down the pair of Alexander and Pereira, 8-3. Against the Spiders, Schmitt downed Pamela Duran 7-6 (10-8), 7-5 and teamed with Soor for another 8-3 doubles win. Schmitt is now a perfect 5-0 on the young season in both singles and doubles. The weekly honor is the sixth of Schmitt's career, her second consecutive in 2008.
MEN'S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1/29)
AMRIT NARASIMHAN - Memphis
Sr., Richmond, Texas (William P. Clements)
Narasimhan went 2-0 in No. 1 singles and doubles in Memphis' opening weekend, defeating Lucas de Brito of Austin Peay, 6-4, 6-2, and Andre Yesipov of UT Martin, 6-2, 6-3. In doubles, Narasimhan teamed with sophomore Charlie Ramsay to go 2-0, including an 8-6 win over Leandro Tolosa-Zenklusen and Leonardo Locatelli (APSU) and an 8-5 win over Andrew Yesipov and Stephan Bruwer, 8-5. Memphis' 2-0 start is its best start since 2005-06. The weekly award is the second of Narasimhan's career, his first in 2008.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Conference USA will name a male and female tennis Athlete of the Week throughout the regular season. The weekly accolades are selected by the media relations department and announced every Tuesday throughout the season.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
J22 - Bruno Rosa, Rice
J29 - Amrit Narasimhan, Memphis
WOMEN
J22 - Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
J29 - Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
OTHER NOTABLE C-USA TENNIS PERFORMANCES
MEN
ROBIN FAHGEN - SMU
So., Smedjebacken, Sweden
Fahgen upset No. 24 Kellen Damico of Texas at No. 2 singles in SMU's 5-2 loss to No. 7 Texas. In doubles, Fahgen paired with Alex Skrypko to get within striking distance of Damico/Corrie, but fell 8-5 at the No. 1 position.
WOMEN
LEILA SALEK - Houston
Sr., Croydon, UK
Salek began the 2008 season with wins at both No. 2 singles and No. 3 doubles. In singles play, she knocked off Tyler Junior College's Priscilla Villemond, 6-3, 6-3. She then paired with Joanna Kacpryzk to win 8-1 in doubles.
AMANDA BROWN - Memphis
So., Whitby, Ontario
Brown picked up her first career singles win at No. 1 to help Memphis secure a 5-2 win over UT-Martin on Sunday. Brown also played No. 1 doubles, but fell 8-5. Her efforts helped first-year head coach Lee Walker gain his first career collegiate coaching victory and gave the Tigers their first dual match win since Feb. 10, 2007.
JULIE CHAO - Rice
So., San Diego, Calif.
Chao compiled an undefeated weekend in both singles and doubles as the Owls began the season 3-0 for the fourth time in six seasons. Chao won all six of her sets, only giong deep into a set once.
NATALIA BUBIEN - SMU
Jr., Warsaw, Poland
Bubien defeated Harvard's Beier Ko, who was ranked as high at No. 52 in the fall, in straight sets Saturday to help SMU down the Crimson, 4-3. The following day, Bubien grabbed another victory at No. 1 singles in the Mustangs' win over Brown. The junior also went 1-1 at No. 1 doubles with partner Pavi Francis.
ITA MEN'S TEAM RANKINGS
(Jan. 29)
Rank School
23 Tulsa
41 Rice
47 SMU
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
(Jan. 8)
Singles Individual
34 Christoph Muller, Rice
44 Ricardo Soriano, Tulsa
45 Ralph Knupfer, Rice
80 David Kuczer, SMU
Doubles Team
5 Cunningham/Connelly, Tulsa
12 Soriano/Brugues, Tulsa
ITA WOMEN'S TEAM RANKINGS
(Jan. 29)
Rank School
44 Tulsa
51 Marshall
60 SMU
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
(Jan. 8)
Singles Individual
19 Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
99t Julie Chao, Rice
Doubles Team
15 Schmitt/Soor, Marshall
WEEKLY RELEASE
The Conference USA media relations staff will produce a weekly release each Tuesday throughout the season, including Athlete of the Week selections and updated standings. Complete league statistics and results will be updated daily throughout the season on the Conference website.
ON THE WEB
For the latest Conference USA tennis match recaps, scores, standings, stats and weekly notebooks please log on to the league's official website.
