Feb. 21, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State Otahkian tennis team heads to Little Rock, Ark. this weekend for the second attempt at its season opener due to poor weather. The Otahkians will take on the Trojans at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the UALR Tennis Center.

Southeast Missouri was ready for their cancelled match earlier this season against Missouri and they are even more ready for this match against UALR.

"We've had a great week of practice," said head coach Mike Stevens. "The team has confidence in the upcoming match and they should do very well."

UALR is currently 2-3 with victories over West Virginia and McNeese State. Head coach Tommy McDonald and assistant coach Alejandra Lopez coach the UALR Trojans. This is McDonald's second season with UALR and Lopez's first season.

"Arkansas-Little Rock has a very good team," said Stevens. "They ended last season nationally ranked and it will be a good test to see what we need to work on for the rest of the season."

The Otahkians will head back to Arkansas on March 1 to compete against Arkansas State. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Jonesboro, Ark. The first home meet will be March 12 at 2 p.m. against Tennessee State.