Sept. 20, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee women's tennis team continued its solid play at the University of Virginia Invitational Saturday, winning seven of its 10 total matches, including all three doubles contests at the Snyder Tennis Center in Charlottesville, Va. Sophomore Rosalía Alda and freshman Natalie Pluskota remained perfect in the competition with victories in both their singles and doubles tilts.

Much like the first day, Alda got the Big Orange off to a positive start, coming back after dropping the first set to Charleen Haarhoff of Old Dominion, to pick up a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, triumph. Shortly thereafter, Pluskota moved to 2-0 in her young career with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-4, victory over North Carolina State's Diana Mortlock.

Also earning singles wins for the Lady Vols were junior Zsófia Zubor and senior Samantha Orlin, who took out Wolfpack teammates Kristen Bleakley and Neils Barringer in straight sets by scores of 6-2, 6-4, and 6-1, 6-3, respectively. In other singles action, junior Caitlin Whoriskey, ranked No. 37 in the nation, was forced to retire in the second set of her match against Lenka Hojckova of NC State, despite leading, 6-3, 2-1, while Knoxville native Berkley Brock, also of NC State, took out sophomore Maria Sorbello, 6-3, 6-2

After taking three of four doubles contests on the opening day of action, Tennessee was perfect on day two, emerging victorious in all three of its matches. The 33rd-ranked pairing of Whoriskey and Sorbello easily dispatched its opponent, the Wolfpack duo of Mortlock and Hojckova, 8-3, to get the ball rolling for UT.

Just moments later, Meredith and Alda posted an impressive 8-4 triumph over the Old Dominion combo of Margarita Spicin and Joanna Dobrowolska, before Zubor and Pluskota joined forces to take down the NC State tandem of Brock and Bleakley, 8-3, to close out the day.

Following this weekend's action, Tennessee will hit the road once again to take part in the Furman Fall Classic in Greeneville, S.C., from Sept. 27-30. The Lady Vols will be without Whoriskey and Sorbello in that tournament, however, as the pairing will be on its way to Pacific Palisades, Calif., to compete in the ITA All-American Championships, Sept. 30-Oct. 5. Whoriskey earned a spot in the main qualifying singles draw and will attempt to repeat as doubles champion with a new teammate in Sorbello.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA INVITATIONAL
SINGLES
Rosalía Alda (Tenn) def. Charleen Haarhoff (ODU) - 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Lenka Hojckova (NC State) def. No. 37 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tenn) - 3-6, 1-2 ret.
Berkley Brock (NC State) def. Maria Sorbello (Tenn) - 6-3, 6-2
Margarita Spicin (ODU) def. Jennifer Meredith (Tenn) - 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Natalie Pluskota (Tenn) def. Diana Mortlock (NC State) - 6-2, 6-4
Zsófia Zubor (Tenn) def. Kristen Bleakley (NC State) - 6-1, 6-3
Samantha Orlin (Tenn) def. Neils Barringer (NC State) - 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES
No. 33 Caitlin Whoriskey/Maria Sorbello (Tenn) def. Diana Mortlock/Lenka Hojckova (NC State) - 8-3
Jennifer Meredith/Rosalía Alda (Tenn) def. Margarita Spicin/Joanna Dobrowolska (ODU) - 8-4
Zsófia Zubor/Natalie Pluskota (Tenn) def. Berkley Brock/Kristin Bleakley (NC State) - 8-3