By Brian Roe, Sports Writer

After strong showings at the Arkansas Invitational and the Texas Christian Invitational the ACU women’s tennis team is ready to show Division II rivals how to play some tennis.

“We have played really strong this year and I think we definitely have a good shot at getting several players to the finals. It was good to have all that practice against Division I teams and it was a good warm-up for this tournament because it is all Division II,” said Joy Israel, sophomore women’s tennis player.

Abilene will play host to this year’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association Omni Regional tournament. The ACU tennis courts, which are being updated with new surfaces and a new championship lighting system, will not be available this weekend,] so the tournament will be held at Rose Park.

ACU will face some tough competition this weekend from Northeastern Oklahoma, St. Edwards, Incarnate Word and Eastern New Mexico.

“Northeastern Oklahoma is probably our toughest competition. Their No. 1 girl ended up seventh in the nation last year,” senior Lacy Johnson said.

Arguably the toughest doubles team in this tournament is the duo of ACU’s Lacy Johnson and Kristen Chumley. The pair of seniors are the defending doubles champs from last year’s ITA Regional tournament. They said they are hoping their hard work this season and experience from last season will lead to another doubles championship.

“I think we have a great chance because we have been working so hard this year. We have eight girls in the singles draw and four doubles teams on the doubles side. I think we have a great chance at getting all four of our doubles teams to the semifinals- that would be a big deal,” Johnson said.

The tournament is scheduled to begin Thursday morning at 8 a.m. and conclude Saturday afternoon.