Feb. 21, 2008
RUSTON, La. - The Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters tennis team can't click their heels and magically return home during the 2008 season. That's because the Techsters' home is currently under construction.
The Lady Techster Tennis Complex was demolished in November to make way for new dorms and the expansion of the Lambright Intramural Center. The Techsters will have a new home in late May or early June upon completion of a new complex next to the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex.
The new tennis center will have eight courts and serve as a great place for the Techsters to call home with eight courts that will enable Tech to host multiple schools at a time and bring quality opponents to Ruston. It will be a home the Techsters can surely take pride in.
"I want what's best for my athletes, and I think they're going to be very happy with the new courts," said Tech coach Quintin Yray. "I think the courts will be better than anything Tech's ever had before. The seating will be very decent, too, because of the hill. People will be looking right down onto the playing surface and have a great view of the matches."
When the courts are completed, Ashley Wedderburn said she believes her teammates will play with a little bit more fire than in the past because they will have a home they can be proud of.
"I don't think it bothers any of us that we have to play at the Ruston courts, but I think once we get our new courts it will be a better advantage because they'll be new and we will all be excited about them," Wedderburn said.
While the Techsters' new courts are being constructed, the team is practicing at the Ruston City Courts located across the street from Ruston High School. The team will also host home meets at the site. Tech will play its first home match of the season at 10 a.m. Friday when Houston comes to town, but the Techsters are not letting the fact they don't have a true home court advantage get them down.
"It's still a definite advantage because we don't have to get up at five in morning to get on the road," Yray said. "We've been doing that the past two years so it will be nice to prepare on courts we're familiar with and surroundings we're familiar with."
Although the team wishes it had a place to call its own now during the season, their spirits are high for their first home match of the season.
"It's nice and really relaxing to finally have a home match," Wedderburn said. "It's really hard going away all the time with homework and being away. It's hard because we're never at home, but it will be nice to have friends come out and see us play."
Wedderburn believes the new tennis facility will give Tech the chance to play more home matches next season and looks forward to defending the Techsters' court.
"I think it's exciting to have something to look forward to for next year," Wedderburn said. "I think people will want to come play us because we will have new courts and they will be so good to play on. I'm hoping people will be jealous."
