By Scott Pohl, WKAR Radio News
East Lansing, MI – EAST LANSING (WKAR) - The Michigan State University men's tennis team is traveling to California for a series of matches next week, but before those matches, they'll spend some time in an unusual setting for tennis.
They'll visit San Quentin prison, where a tennis program has become part of the exercise and discipline regimen for inmates, some of whom are incarcerated for life.
A few years ago, private donations and a grant from the U.S. Tennis Association paid for a tennis court at San Quentin.
Coach Gene Orlando is taking players from MSU to hit with these inmates on Saturday and Sunday. He says his players are looking forward to the visit.
The inmates sometimes play with members of a local tennis club, but this is the first time a collegiate tennis program has visited San Quentin.