Oct. 24, 2009

By: Lindsey Williford, Media Relations Graduate Assistant

CINCINNATI - The University of Tennessee women's tennis team claimed multiple victories on the third day of play at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Ohio Valley Regionals in Cincinnati, Ohio. Leading the way for the Lady Vols with two singles victories each was senior Caitlin Whoriskey and the team's lone freshman, Kata Szekely.

No. 1-seed Whoriskey faced Kate Chybowski from Evansville University in Saturday's Round of 32 action. Chybowski managed to take away four games in the first set, but lost 6-4. It was all Whoriskey the rest of the way, ultimately winning the contest with a 6-0 score in set-two. Following the first match, the East Sandwich, Mass., native competed against Vanderbilt's Hannah Blatt in the Round of 16. Once again, Whoriskey's opponent was no match, going down easily, 6-3, 6-0.

The tournament's eighth-seed, Szekely looked as if she'd been playing collegiate tennis for years. While she did move into extra games against Miami University's Natalie Araya, the Lady Vol came out on top, 6-4, 7-6. After dispatching Araya, the Hungary native moved onto a Round of 16 battle with Courtney Collins from Memphis University. This was a much easier ride for Szekely, who dropped only three games en-route to a straight-set, 6-1, 6-2 victory and the chance to compete in quarterfinal singles action on Sunday.

The Lady Vols other three competitors, junior and tournament No. 4-seed Maria Sorbello, senior Zsófia Zubor and junior Rosalía Alda lost their respective singles matches. Heather Steinbauer of Vanderbilt blocked Sorbello's attempt to advance to the next round, winning 2-6, 0-6. Zubor was downed by Indiana University's Myriam Sopel in straight-sets as well, 4-6, 2-6. Alda, however, took Indiana's Evgeniya Verteshva to three-sets, including a tie-break in the first. Set-one went to Verteshva 6-7(3). Alda won a close second set, 6-4, but fell in the third, 0-6.

Quarterfinal round of main draw doubles also took place Saturday afternoon. The No. 1 combo of Zubor and Alda battled hard but in the end it was Vanderbilt's team of Erica Robertson and Steinbauer who would emerge the victors, 8-6. Sorbello and Szekely, the tournament's seventh-seeded duo, had to come-from-behind to win against Caroline Lilly and Megan Broderick from Kentucky. The Tennessee tandem won in a tie-breaker, 9-8 (7). The duo is now one round away from being the finals but must bring their A-game if they hope to get by Chelsea Preeg and Jackie Wu of Vanderbilt. This is the third time this season a Lady Vol team has played against the Commodore twosome.

Sunday's schedule consists of singles at 10 a.m. ET followed by an 11 a.m. ET start for doubles semifinals with the final round following in the afternoon. The opponents for the singles draws have yet to be determined.

SATURDAY RESULTS

SINGLES

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. Kate Chybowski (Evansville) - 6-4, 6-0

Evgeniya Verteshva (Indiana) def. Rosalía Alda (UT)- 6-7, 6-4, 0-6

No. 8 Kata Szekely (UT) def. Natalie Araya (Miami U.) - 6-4, 7-6

Myriam Sopel (Indiana) def. Zsófia Zubor (UT)- 4-6, 2-6

Heather Steinbauer (Vanderbilt) def. No. 4 Maria Sorbello- 2-6, 0-6

DOUBLES

Heather Steinbauer and Erica Robertson (Vanderbilt) def. No. 1 Zsófia Zubor/Rosalía Alda - 6-8

No. 7 Maria Sorbello/Kata Szekely def. Caroline Lilly and Megan Broderick (Kentucky) - 9-8 (7)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

SINGLES

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) vs. TBD - 10 a.m. ET

No. 8 Kata Szekely (UT) vs. TBD - 10 a.m. ET

DOUBLES

No. 7 Maria Sorbello/Kata Szekely vs. Chelsea Preeg/Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt) - 11 a.m. ET