Jan. 10, 2008

After a three month layoff since the fall campaign, the Dayton women's tennis team is set to open its spring season on Friday on the road against the Cincinnati Bearcats. First-year head coach Linda O'Keefe will lead the Flyers, who display a balance of experience and youth, in their effort to improve on last season's 11th place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Dayton's spring schedule features 20 matches, four of which are conference clashes including a dual with in-state rival Xavier on April 13. The Flyers will spend spring break competing in Altamonte Springs, FL, on March 17-19 against Long Island, South Dakota and Siena. The Atlantic 10 Championship rounds out the season on April 18-20 in Monroeville, PA.

UD returns several key players from last year's squad. Senior Allysa Detroy, who led the Flyers last spring with 11 singles wins and was named A-10 Player of the Week in February, is back to anchor Dayton. Classmate Megan Gray will also see action near the top of the Flyers line-up this spring.

Nikki Dzubay, the team's lone junior, finished second on the team in victories in 2007 and figures to be solid in the middle of the UD line-up. Sophomore Erin Wilkie, who saw significant playing time as a freshman last season, will be joined by a host of newcomers who hope to crack the line-up in 2008. Sophomore transfer Molly Mathews made an instant impact in the fall by opening 2-0 at the Ball State Invitational. In addition, Mathews paired with freshman Kelly O'Connell to win this fall's Alumni Match.

O'Connell is one of five freshmen that will compete for playing time. Chelsea Glankler pieced together the most impressive fall season by winning a pair of matches in Flight "B" at the BSU Invitational. Chelsea Gray, Kellaina Grote and Kara Root round out this spring's roster.

Friday's match at Cincinnati begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, and is the first of three road matches to start the season.