TENNIS NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                                                                              May 9, 2007

From Lady Jackets To Lady Railsplitters

HARROGATE, TN – Lincoln Memorial University tennis coach Lisa-Marie Lewallen announced the signing of Emily Osborne of Middlesboro High in Middlesboro, Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon.  Osborne signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the NCAA Division II Lady Railsplitters around 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.

A four-year starter on both the Lady Jacket basketball and volleyball teams, Osborne chose to pursue college tennis earlier this year.  The tri-sport athlete has been on half of the 13^th Region doubles championship teams for the past two years. 

Osborne has made the trip to Lexington, Kentucky to play in the state tennis tournament in each of the past four years.  This year she will be competing for the first time in singles in region play.  “After splitting my time between three sports for the past four years, I am anxious to start focusing my attention on one sport so that I can hopefully take my game to the next level,” said Osborne.  “I am looking forward to playing for Coach Lewallen and contributing to the Lady Railsplitter team.”

Osborne and the Lady Jackets are currently trying to win their third straight regional championship title.  The regional tournament will be played this year at Middlesboro, with the finals being played on May 18.  When Osborne joins the Lady Railsplitter squad during fall semester of 2007, she will be stepping into some big shoes as she tries to help replace graduated All-American Helena Sokolova (Kosice, Slovakia).  Emily is the daughter of Chuck and Julie Osborne of Middlesboro and is undecided as to what major she will pursue while attending Lincoln Memorial University.

Photo by Ray Welch Photography

-LMU-

For additional comments please contact,
Head Coach:  Lisa-Marie Lewallen
Phone:  (423) 869-6399