April 11, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State Tennis team (2-6, 1-2) will travel to Charleston, Ill. this weekend. The Otahkians will play Morehead (8-4, 2-1) at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Eastern Illinois (8-9, 2-2) at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The Otahkians are coming off a loss against Tennessee-Martin earlier this week. The Otahkians are currently ranked seventh in the OVC standings. Junior Kay Ehlke is in the top five in the OVC for No. 4 singles play winning 3 matches and losing two.

"Both Morehead State and Eastern Illinois are very good teams and both will be very difficult matches to win," said coach Mike Stevens. "The team has worked hard and their improvement has impressed other coaches. So it should be some very good tennis this weekend."

Morehead is currently 8-9, 2-2 this season. Morehead is ranked fifth in the OVC standings. They have athletes in the top five in the OVC in five of six singles play and all three doubles play. Eastern Illinois is currently 8-4, 2-1 overall. They are ranked fourth in the OVC with nine athletes ranked in the top five of singles and doubles play.

Four of the Otahkians were honored Wednesday at the Southeast Missouri State Scholar Athlete Luncheon. Andrea Aldana, Kay Ehlke, Julie Jarrell, and Amanda Walker with 125 other athletes were all honored by the University President for GPAs 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

"I have been very impressed with the academic accomplishments of our Scholar Athletes," said Stevens. "Kay Ehlke has a perfect 4.0 and Andrea Aldana, Julie Jarrell, and Amanda Walker are very close to a 4.0. That is very impressive and says a lot about their determination and work ethic on and off the court."

Next, the Otahkians will be back home to try for the third time this season to play Tennessee State, after the first two were postponed due to weather. The match will begin at 2 p.m. at the Southeast Tennis Courts.