May 1, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State Tennis team has finished their season 4-11 overall and finished seventh in the OVC Tournament with a record of 3-7. This is the first time since 1998 that the Otahkians have defeated at least three OVC opponents and has placed at least seventh in the OVC Tournament.

"The team showed a great deal of improvement during the course of this year," said head coach Mike Stevens. "We did not have our captain and top player Adrienne Bland able to compete this year which did hurt us quite a bit. The rest of the team really stepped up and worked hard all season."

Junior Kay Ehlke had an impressive season in singles with an overall record of 6-8 and an OVC record of 4-5. Ehlke saw time in the No. 3 and the No. 4 singles play this season. Freshman Cristina Garcia saw playing time in the No. 3, 4, and 5 singles play with an overall record of 3-7 and an OVC record of 4-5. Junior Daniela Garcia and senior Andrea Aldana were 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the OVC in the No. 1 doubles play.

"We won every match we had a chance to win except one," said Stevens. "So in that sense we were very successful."

The Otahkians will get a long break over the summer before coming back in the fall. Stevens will be using this time to fill out his roster for next season.

"This is a very important time for recruiting," said Stevens. "We have two players who have committed to playing here next year and I am trying for two more."