Jan. 30, 2010

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - It took over four hours and came down to a match-deciding third-set on the final court, but the 11th-ranked University of Tennessee women's tennis team (4-0) was able to outlast Southeastern Conference and in-state rival No. 21 Vanderbilt (3-1) to claim a 4-3 victory in the championship match of the Knoxville regional in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center.

The Lady Volunteers hosted the Commodores, No. 27 TCU and 30th-ranked Texas, with each team vying for the chance to play in the Feb. 11-14 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis. Tennessee will now make the trip to the national competition for the first time since 2004.

"We played in the toughest region in the country, and for our players to come through with the win says a lot about their character," Co-Head Coach Mike Patrick said. "I'm especially proud of Zsófia and the strength she gave."

For the fourth time in as many matches this season, the Big Orange captured the doubles point by winning two of the three matches. The No. 1 pairing in the country, senior Caitlin Whoriskey and sophomore Natalie Pluskota, won its match, 8-2, over the Commodore combo of No. 25 Heather Steinbauer and Erica Robertson. Just seconds later, the new but successful tandem of juniors Jennifer Meredith and Maria Sorbello scored its own 8-2 triumph over Catherine Newman and Keilly Ulery.

With doubles point already decided, the match between UT's duo of junior Rosalía Alda and Zubor and the 40th-ranked VU team of Jackie Wu and Chelsea Preeg was halted with the score reading 7-4 in the Commodore's favor.

"I've said it before; the doubles point is key," Patrick said. "It gives us the lead going into singles and the team a little extra confidence boost."

The Orange and White moved to singles with the lead only to see it disappear after Pluskota retired due to injury, following a 6-4 loss to No. 32 Preeg in set one.

"Nat is still not at 100 percent," Patrick said. "Had she won the first set, she might have continued playing, but her body was done. We want Nat healthy and rested, especially for the upcoming ITA team competition, so we are not going to push things too far."

Alda gave UT the team lead back for good after winning her contest in straight sets at the fourth position in the lineup, dropping Ulery, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to improve her 2010 dual record to 3-1. Fellow classmate and 51st-ranked Sorbello followed suit shortly thereafter on court two where she downed her opponent, No. 31 Newman in two sets, 6-1, 6-4.

Vanderbilt was not going to go away without a fight though, as it came racing back with a pair of wins to return the score to a deadlock at 3-3. Wu, ranked No. 29 in the ITA singles poll, got the ball rolling for the Commodores, taking out sixth-ranked Whoriskey, 6-4, 7-5, at the No. 1 position. Heather Blatt then tied things up with a 6-4, 6-3, triumph over Lady Vol sophomore Katie Lee. With the score tied at 3-3, both teams stood by to watch the deciding match between Zubor and Steinbauer.

Zubor needed little time to win the first stanza, 6-2, and it looked as if she would breeze her way through the second after jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Steinbauer, however, had other plans and quickly worked her way back into contention by winning the next seven games to claim the set, 7-5, and send the match to a third and deciding frame.

With the right to advance past regionals and into the team championships hanging in the balance, Zubor returned to the form she displayed in the opening set. The Hungary native dropped just one game en route to a 6-1 triumph, eventually using a forehand winner to finish off the match and give the Lady Vols the team victory.

"I'm just trying to play my best tennis, mentally and physically," Zubor said. "I was up against a great opponent and she did a great job today."

Zubor has now won nine-straight singles matches, improving her overall season record to 14-4.

Tennessee's triumph over Vanderbilt means it will make its first trip to the ITA Team Indoors since 2004, where it will be joined by the 14 other regional winners. First, however, the Orange and White will hit the road for a Feb. 7 contest versus No. 55 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

SATURDAY RESULTS: CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

No. 11 Tennessee 4, No. 21 Vanderbilt 3

Singles:

1: No. 29 Jackie Wu (VU) def. No. 6 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) - 6-4, 7-5

2: No. 51 Maria Sorbello (UT) def. No. 32 Catherine Newman (VU) - 6-1, 6-4

3: No. 32 Chelsea Preeg (VU) def. Natalie Pluskota (UT) - 6-4, Win by Default

4: Rosalía Alda (UT) def. Keilly Ulery (VU) - 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

5: Zsófia Zubor (UT) def. Heather Steinbauer (VU) - 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

6: Hannah Blatt (VU) def. Katie Lee (UT) - 6-4, 6-3

Doubles:

1: No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota def. No. 25 Heather Steinbauer/Erica Robertson - 8-2

2: No. 40 Jackie Wu/Chelsea Preeg (VU) vs. Rosalía Alda/Zsófia Zubor - 7-4, unfinished

3: Jennifer Meredith/Maria Sorbello (UT) def. Catherine Newman - 8-2

Match Notes:

Tennessee 4-0; National ranking #11

Vanderbilt 3-1; National ranking #21

Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3); Singles (3, 4, 2, 1, 6, 5*)

A: 140 T: 4:20