Nov. 9, 2002

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas

Senior Vilmarie Castellvi of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team won her semifinal match on Saturday in the consolation tournament of the Omni Hotels Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, but fell in the final later that day. The tournament is being hosted by Southern Methodist University at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas.

Castellvi faced a pair of contenders from Stanford on the afternoon, matching up first with No. 15 Erin Barnikow in the semifinals. Castellvi, the nation's No. 1-ranked player, defeated Barnikow in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, before squaring off with unranked Alice Barnes in the final. Barnes took the first set, 6-3, but the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, native stormed back with a 6-2 win in the second set. Barnes, however, was too much for Castellvi as she took the match in the third set by a 6-3 count.

Castellvi finished the fall season with an 11-3 mark and two tournament titles to her credit at the adidas Invitational in September and the St. Mary's Fall Classic in October. She won five matches against top 25 opponents and claimed ten victories over ranked players. Castellvi now has 106 career singles triumphs, which stands at fourth all-time in school history.