Oct. 20, 2002

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Freshman Sabita Maharaj of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team needed three sets on Sunday to dispose of Georgia Tech's Mysti Morris, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, to win the second flight at the June Stewart Invitational in Nashville. The tournament was hosted by Vanderbilt University.

Maharaj is now 6-3 this fall and has won six straight after a 0-3 start. The Gainesville, Fla., native's win also marked her second straight singles title, claiming her first in flight No. 3 at the St. Mary's Fall Classic two weeks ago in Knoxville.

In other action, junior Tammy Encina won her match with Jessica Johnson of Maryland, 6-2, 7-6(1), to claim fifth place in flight one. Sophomore Ashley Robards fell to Purdue's Lara Burgarello, 6-4, 6-1, in a battle for third place in flight four, while fellow sophomore Claudia Farace took seventh in flight five with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Sekitu Grant of Georgia Tech. Sophomore Breanna Kray dropped her match with Kentucky's Shannon Stafford, 6-4, 6-1, to finish in fourth place in the fifth flight.

The next tournament on the Lady Vols' schedule is the SEC Coaches Tournament in Peachtree City, Ga., on Nov. 7-10. Senior Vilmarie Castellvi, the nation's current No. 1-ranked player, will travel to Dallas, Texas, that weekend to compete in the Omni Hotels National Indoors. The indoors are one of three national championship events during the 2002-03 season.

Sunday's Results:

Flight 1: Tammy Encina (UT) def. Jessica Johnson (Maryland) 6-2, 7-6(1)
Flight 2: Sabita Maharaj (UT) def. Mysti Morris (Georgia Tech) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Flight 4: Lara Burgarello (Purdue) def. Ashley Robards (UT) 6-4, 6-1
Flight 5: Claudia Farace (UT) def. Sekitu Grant (Georgia Tech) 6-3, 6-1
Flight 5: Shannon Stafford (Kentucky) def. Breanna Kray (UT) 6-4, 6-1