Sept. 3, 2009 - Women's Tennis
Maroons to Tour Uruguay, Argentina

CHICAGO -- Making their first-ever overseas trip, the University of Chicago women's tennis team will tour two South American countries from Sept. 9-18. The Maroons will spend six days in Uruguay before heading to Argentina for a three-day visit.

During its stay in Uruguay, Head Coach Marty Perry's team will tour Punta del Este and Cerro Colorado and see action against club players at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in Montevideo. The Maroons will continue play against club opponents at the Buenos Aries Lawn & Tennis Club and the Pilara Tennis Club in Argentina.

"This trip marks the first international travel for either tennis team, and we are very excited to have the opportunity to take part in such an exciting journey," said Perry. "Going to South America and playing on the red clay will not only give our players an invaluable team bonding experience, but will serve as a springboard for our preparation for the fall season, including the ITA regional tournament.

"We chose Uruguay and Argentina because one of our previous volunteer assistants, Valentina de Yeregui, is a former top-five player that country and is currently living in Montevideo. She has helped us tremendously planning the trip.”

The women's tennis team is among four Maroon squads making overseas trips this fall, joining men's soccer (Italy) and men's and women's basketball (Argentina, Chile). Upon the completion of these four trips, 10 different U. of C. sports teams will have visited 14 nations since 1997.

Team fundraising efforts as well as support from the athletic department and alumni have made the trips possible.

"We have committed these special funds to international travel for our teams and believe that it substantially enhances the student experience here," said Director of Athletics Tom Weingartner.

"It sets our athletics program apart and makes it consistent with the college's emphasis on foreign study and travel. These special foreign trips allow our athletes to gain not only national but international experience that can shape them for the rest of their lives while helping them to learn how to be genuine global citizens."