CHAMPIONS AGAIN: SZEKELY, BOREN REPEAT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On
the final day of the Lady Vol Classic, University of Tennessee women’s
tennis players Kata Szekely and Brynn Boren earned the doubles
championship title with Szekely capturing the singles crown for the
second week in a row.
“Smaller field, same results,” said co-head coach Mike Patrick. “Brynn
and Kata have been awesome, they are a little worn down now but they
did a great job and they have all semester and I expect them to keep
doing it.”
The Lady Vols came away with two doubles victories and three singles
victories on the day including yet another sweep by Szekely.
Szekely has currently won eight straight doubles victories while Szekely has earned nine consecutive singles wins.
Boren and Szekely paired up to claim the doubles title with a hard
fought 8-5 win over Kara Cecil and Kelsey Dieters of Ohio State to
begin the day.
Also earning a doubles win were Caitlyn Williams and Joanna Henderson
who defeated Fidan Manashirova and Gabby Steele of Ohio State, 8-2.
Boren sat out sinlges play, which moved Szekely up into the No. 1
singles slot, the deciding factor in what would be her championship
match. Szekely battled to a first set 6-4 victory, coming from behind
in the second set to finish with a 6-4 win and the championship.
Henderson used her doubles momentum to come out strong and sat down
Caitlin McGraw 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. After playing at No. 6
singles Friday, and No. 5 singles Saturday, her strong play on the
weekend earned her the right to play in the No. 4 spot and she
succeeded.
“She is starting to get some confidence in what she is doing,” said
Patrick. “We have been wanting her to play the way that she has been
playing here for the last year and now she is buying into it, believing
in it and is confident enough to do it. She will reap those benefits by
playing that way.”
Also winning on the day was freshman Mimi Fotopoulos who earned a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Kirsten Lewis on court three.
“I am really proud of what Kayla [McMurray] has done and Jo [Henderson]
have done this weekend, they have really stepped up and picked it up.
Mimi [Fotopoulos] competed hard, it is a learning process, and
hopefully we are getting some people back out there with Sarah [Toti]
returning. It was a great weekend for us, we played some good teams and
it was just a good event.”
The Lady Vols will have the weekend off and Szekely and Boren will
return to action at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championship from Nov.
8-11 while the rest of the team heads to the Dick Vitale Clay Court
Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Doubles
Tennessee vs. NC State
1. No. 34 Brynn Boren/Kata Szekely, UT, def. Kara Cecil/Kelsey Dieters, OSU, 8-5
2. Caitlyn Williams/Joanna Henderson, UT, def. Fidan Manashirova/Gabby Steele, OSU, 8-2
3. Kelsey Becker/Nicole Flower, OSU, def. Sara Toti/Mimi Fotopoulos, UT, 8-1
Singles Finals
1. No. 28 Kata Szekely, UT def. Nadia Ravita, UK, 6-4, 6-4
2. Jessica Stiles, UK def. Caitlyn Williams, UT, 3-0 (Inj.)
3. Mimi Fotopoulos, UT def Kirsten Lewis UK, 6-2, 6-1
4. Joanna Henderson, UT def. Caitlin McGraw, UK, 6-2, 6-2
5. Khristina Blajkevitch, UK def. Tiffany Tavares, UT, 6-1, 6-1
6. Stephanie Fox, UK def. Kayla McMurry, UT, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2
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