Oct. 16, 2008

HOUSTON, Texas - The Samford University women's tennis team will continue play in its 2008 fall season this weekend as the Bulldogs begin competition Friday in the 28th-annual Rice Classic to be held at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.

The prestigious multiple-flight event will feature a number of the nation's top teams and will be hosted by Rice University. The 2008 Rice Classic will begin Friday morning and continue until Sunday afternoon.

Already this season, Samford has competed in four fall tournament events. Most recently, the Bulldogs participated in the 2008 UNF Invitational hosted by the University of North Florida. On the final day of the UNF Invite, Samford's Rebecca Kirven, Lindsey Mallory and Karen Niszl all picked up key victories in consolation action.

Samford's 2008-09 roster boasts four returning players from last year's squad which won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship.

The Bulldogs earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and will be led this season by sophomores Mallory, Andrie Meiring, Taylor Morgan and Kirven.

This year, Samford also added the services of freshmen Jessica Diamond, Beth Erwin and Niszl, as well as talented transfers from Middle Tennessee Shannon Hartmann and Stephanie Parkison.

The 28th-annual Rice Classic will be played Friday-Sunday in Houston, Texas. Matches will take place at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium located on the campus of Rice University.