Oct. 17, 2010

Day Five Results

By Donnie Conley, Media Relations Student Assistant

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team punched at least two tickets to New York City on Sunday at the 2010 USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships, held at the Knoxville Racquet Club..

Brynn Boren and Maria Sorbello wrapped up the doubles title on Sunday morning, defeating teammates Rosalía Alda and Millie Nichols, 8-2. With the win, they qualify for the doubles draw of the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. from Nov. 4-7.

Sorbello, a senior, qualified for the Riviera/ITA All-American Women's Championships last month but was unable to play because of an illness. Boren played in the qualifying singles draw but lost both matches.

"Brynn already got to play in a national event this fall, so she was able to feel the pressure and didn't play her best," UT co-head coach Mike Patrick said. "For Maria, she earned her way back into (a national event) and she'll be looking forward to a great trip to New York. Anytime you can play at the national tennis center, it's a great opportunity."

Meanwhile, Rosalía Alda and Boren will meet in Monday's singles final for a spot in the main singles draw of the ITA National Indoors.

With both players advancing, it means that all of the singles and doubles finalists came from UT.

Patrick said that having only Lady Vols in the finals is a tremendous achievement for the program.

"We can't ask for more than that," Patrick said. "That's the way we want it every time. We have a senior who has worked hard to get there and a freshman at the beginning of her career. From the quarterfinals on, the players are pretty evenly matched. The one who handles the circumstances the best tomorrow is the one who will move on."

Singles play began Sunday with the quarterfinals. Boren knocked off top-seeded and No. 27-ranked Jackie Wu of Vanderbilt, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. She advanced to face Chelsea Preeg of Vanderbilt, who knocked off Evansville's Kate Chybowski.

Sorbello and Alda advanced to play each other in the semifinals. Alda got there by topping teammate and fellow Texan Whitney Wofford, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0. Sorbello advanced over Vanderbilt's Lauren Mira

In the semifinals, Alda and Sorbello faced off with Alda taking home the victory, 6-4, 6-0.

Boren reached the finals courtesy of a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Vanderbilt's Chelsea Preeg.

First serve of tomorrow's final has been changed from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the student athletes' class schedules.

Fans are reminded to follow the Lady Vols on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UTLadyVols.