Oct. 26, 2009

By: Lindsey Williford, Media Relations Graduate Assistant

CINCINNATI - It took three sets, but in the end University of Tennessee senior Caitlin Whoriskey got the job done and won the singles title at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Ohio Valley Regionals on Monday.

It was a close match decided by thrilling tie-breaker in the third set against Vanderbilt's Jackie Wu. However, it was Whoriskey tucking yet-another tournament title under her belt.

The East Sandwich, Mass., native, ranked 27th in the nation and seeded No. 1 in the Ohio Valley regionals kept it close in set one, however it was the tournament's No. 2 player that would tally the win, 6-4.

The reverse happened in set two, as the Lady Volunteer outlasted the Commodore, tying up the contest with a 6-4 victory.

"Both Caitlin and Jackie gave it their all in this match," stated Co-Head Coach Mike Patrick. "Everyone could tell early on this was going to be a fight to the finish."

A fight to the finish it was, with game wins going back-and-forth between the players. The set eventually deadlocked at six games apiece and a tie-breaker would be needed to decide the tournament champion. Just like the previous games, no one had complete control until Whoriskey kicked her play up one more notch to claim the last three points, the tournament singles title and an automatic berth into November's ITA National Indoor Championships, scheduled to take place Nov. 5-8 on the campus of Yale University in West Haven, Conn.

After creeping closer to the finals each year, and bowing out in last year's semis, Whoriskey seemed poised to at least make the title match in her final collegiate season. "I'm so proud of her," Patrick said. "She has worked so hard, not just this fall, but her whole time at UT, so to see her win this her senior year is a something special."

Fresh off a doubles title with sophomore partner Natalie Pluskota at the ITA All-American, Whoriskey seemed to be hanging on to that winning mentality. Whoriskey who has now won three tournament titles this season, two in singles and one in doubles will set her sights on the ITA Indoors.

"She looks forward to going but she also knows what needs to be worked on before the Indoors happen, so we plan on making every practice minute count."

The ITA National Indoor Championship brings together the nation's top men's and women's collegiate tennis players for both singles and doubles who were victors in regional play or claimed a runner-up finish. This is the second of three national tournaments administered by the ITA throughout the 2009-10 season.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

SINGLES

FINALS

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. No. 2 Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt) - 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7)

SEMIFINALS

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. No. 3 Catherine Newman (Vanderbilt) - 6-2, 6-2

QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. No. 5 Megan Broderick (Kentucky) - 6-4, 6-4

ROUND OF 16

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. Hannah Blatt (Vanderbilt) - 6-3, 6-0

ROUND OF 32

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