Dec. 14, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Eight members of the Ohio State women's tennis team joined forces with Buddy Up Tennis for a special clinic Nov. 19 at Wickertree Tennis Club in Columbus, Ohio. The Buddy Up program, which organizes clinics for residents in the Columbus, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh areas with Down Syndrome, has a photo gallery available here.

You can read more about the Buddy Up Tennis program at www.buddyuptennis.com and www.facebook.com/buddyuptennis.

The Buckeyes were Buddies for the program's weekly, 90-minute session, joining the participants in exercises aimed at improving fitness and tennis skills, before putting on a demonstration for the crowd alongside coaches from Buddy Up.

"Buddy Up is a wonderful program and I felt blessed to be a part of something so special," senior Kelsey Haviland said of the program. "The kids were a joy to work with. They inspired us as much as we could have hoped to inspire them."

Sophomore Noelle Malley mirrored Haviland's sentiments.

"It was really great to work with the kids and meet people in our community," Malley said. "Seeing how much they loved the sport really motivated our team, also."

Ohio State begins the 2012 season against South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 15 before hosting its home-opening doubleheader against West Virginia and Dayton Jan. 21.