Feb. 16, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Four days before its conference opener against Purdue, Illinois returns home to face defending SEC West conference champion and 35th-ranked Ole Miss at noon on Saturday at the Atkins Tennis Center.

"Splash Atkins Orange" will be a festive occasion for the two teams' first meeting. One day before the men's basketball team hosts "Paint the Hall Orange," head coach Sujay Lama and the women's tennis team will entertain fans with various raffles and promotions.

"It's a big match for us this weekend," Lama said. "We want our fans to be a difference maker. We are very close to breaking through against a good team and we want it to be this weekend."

Saturday follows two road shutout losses to Intercollegiate Tennis Association top-30 teams, William & Mary and Wake Forest last weekend.

"Although we lost two matches to two very good teams 7-0, ironically we played two of our best matches this past weekend and it was on the road. A couple of points here and there and we could have pulled an upset in either match. Unfortunately that doesn't show up in the final outcome. The team gained a lot of confidence because they went toe-to-toe with two very good teams. We are playing really close and now we need to take the next step. This match at home against Ole Miss is a great opportunity to get over the hump."

While the Illini (4-3) have played seven matches, Saturday's meeting will be only the fourth dual competition for the Rebels who posted a pair of 6-1 victories against Tennessee-Chattanooga and Southern Mississippi and a 7-0 defeat of Southern. Head coach Mark Beyers' team is similar to Lama's in experience. The Rebels have five sophomores to the Illini's four, and two ranked upperclassmen, No. 89, senior Virginia Tomatis and No. 100, junior Ilona Somers. Combined, the pair is one of two ranked Ole Miss tandems. ITA's latest ranking lists the two upperclassmen at No. 14 and underclassmen, sophomore Nika Koukhartchouk and freshman Kseniia Tokarieva at No. 47.

Citing Ole Miss, Lama says age should not be a detriment to success.

"The inexperience is the only thing holding us back," the team's leader said. "(Senior captain) Brianna Knue is the only player on this team who was with us when we were getting it done against top 20 and top 30 teams. She knows what it took to get to that point. The other kids don't have that swagger and confidence but they are playing with a lot more energy and fire. Once you get over that hurdle, you know how to do it. The obstacle we have is more mental than physical. We are emotionally well prepared - it's not a lack of effort, or fight or energy."

Score updates will be available on www.fightingillini.com.