Oct. 1, 2011

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - After defeating No. 113 Alina Shazhko of Stephen F. Austin 6-1, 6-3, at the ITA All-American Championships, junior Kata Szekely (4-1) fell to Nebraska's Mary Weatherholt 1-6, 0-6 in the prequalifier semifinals Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

With the afternoon win, Szekely recorded her second 4-0 start in her three years at Tennessee. The victory also marked her second ranked win of the season, evening her career record in such situations at 4-4.

While Szekely heads back to Knoxville, four of her teammates (senior Natalie Pluskota, sophomore Brynn Boren and freshmen Joanna Henderson and Sarah Toti) will fly to Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Pluskota, already penciled in for the main draw of doubles with Henderson, is slated to play in qualifying singles. Boren, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., is scheduled to compete in qualifying singles as well, while also playing in qualifying doubles with Toti.

Qualifying draws are slated for Oct. 4-5 at the Riviera Country Club. Eight players from the singles draw and four doubles teams from the doubles draw will earn the right to compete in the main draws of the event. Main draw play will take place over four days, beginning on Oct. 6.

Singles quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions will receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 3-6 in Flushing, N.Y.

The All-American Championship began in 1983 and features the top 128 players in the country.