The Injuries strike back!

SIU women's tennis takes on Western Michigan today

After injuries dwindled the number of healthy bodies to just three by the end of last season, the SIU women's tennis squad thought the injury plague was finally over after a healthy fall season.

But the depraved curse continues after claiming sophomore Kari Stark, who injured a disc in her back during Thanksgiving break - leaving just six able bodies to compete when SIU takes on Western Michigan tonight in Decatur.

Stark experienced similar problems during her junior season in high school and underwent surgery to correct the injury.

Up until Thanksgiving, the only problem she had was an occasional tightness in her back.

"I know Kari is really, really disappointed," head coach Judy Auld said. "Her back was starting to get better over Christmas vacation and it went out again when she came back."

Stark said the injury reoccurred because of over activity.

Some doctors are saying she will not return until next fall because of the severity of her injury, but she remains hopeful she will compete this semester.

The injury has decimated SIU's most competitive doubles squad.

Zoya Honarmand and Stark heated up toward the end of the fall season, capping it off with a No. 3 doubles championship at the Memphis Invitational. Their record this fall was a solid 7-3.

"It is really disappointing," Stark said. "I had a good fall season and we, as a team, were starting to come around."

But this weekend former Missouri Valley Conference co-Freshman of the year Tana Trapani makes her comeback.

Trapani, who compiled a 28-4 mark during her freshman season in 2001, severely injured her hip last season and sat out this fall.

Auld said she plans to work Trapani in slow, with her taking Stark's spot in No. 3 doubles.

She said that this weekend will be a good experience for her younger players.

Although injuries are dimming the mood, Auld is looking forward meeting up with her old high school teammate Betsy Kuhle, who is now the head coach at Western Michigan.

And both are coming back to their hometown of Decatur.

"We did this like a decade ago," said Auld of coaching against her ex-teammate. "I didn't realize it was that long ago. We try to do this occasionally. It is kind of a homecoming for both of us."

Reporter Zack Creglow can be reached zcreglow@dailyegyptian.com