Sept. 23, 2012
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech women’s tennis team wrapped up its fall-opening event, the Southern Shootout hosted by Georgia State at the Sharon Lester Tennis Center at Piedmont Park in Atlanta Sunday.
“I think this was a great event for us,” head coach Rodney Harmon said. “I think our players really benefitted by having the opportunity to play early in the season against some quality competition. We had some good days. I think Friday and Saturday, we played extremely well. We started off well today, but didn’t finish as strong as I would’ve liked. All in all, it was a great event and it helps us get ready for the rest of the fall season.”
Senior Elizabeth Kilborn and freshman Kendal Woodard capped a 2-1 weekend with a tough 8-6 win over USF’s 24th-ranked pair of Ecaterina Vasenina and Loreto Alonso. For Kilborn, it was her third win over a ranked opponent for the weekend after tallying singles wins over ranked foes Friday and Saturday.
“Liz has taken on the role of captain of this team, not just because she is a senior, but because of her work ethic and her willingness and desire to put in 100 percent effort not only on the court, but off with strength coach Scott McDonald. She’s a very talented player, she came out and played three really tough opponents and played beautifully each day and brought down two wins,” Harmon added.
After building a big lead, sophomore Alex Anghelescu and Jasmine Minor held off the Bulls Paula Montoya and Kate Parker, 9-8 (7) to finish the weekend with a 3-0 doubles record.
Kilborn went for her third singles win over ranked opponent in three days when she battled Georgia State’s 23rd-ranked Abigail Tere-Apisah, but the Panther junior prevailed 6-3, 7-5.
Freshman Natasha Prokhnevska improved to 2-0 on the season with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 win over Georgia State’s Chaimaa Roudami.
Kilborn will head west to Los Angeles for the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American tournament this weekend as an alternate to the qualifying draw.
The next fall event for the Yellow Jackets will be the Alabama Invitational Oct. 5-7 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s tennis on Twitter, @GT_WTEN, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensTennis, for an inside look at the program.
Friday, September 21
Doubles:
Elizabeth Kilborn / Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Joelle Kissell / Rachel James-Baker (NC State), 8-2
Alex Anghelescu / Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Elisha Hande / Chloe Smith (NC State), 8-5
Singles:
#94 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. #29 Ecaterina Vasenina (USF), 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
Loreto Alonso (USF) def. Jasmine Minor (GT), 6-0, 6-1
Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Paula Montoya (USF), 6-1, 7-5
Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Kate Parker (USF), 6-3, 6-0
Saturday, September 22
Doubles:
Abigail Tere-Apisah / Masa Grgan (GSU) def. Elizabeth Kilborn / Kendal Woodard (GT), 9-7
Alex Anghelescu / Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Natallia Vavulina / Maryna Kozachenko (GSU), 8-6
Singles:
#94 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. #19 Joelle Kissell (NC State), 6-2, 6-4
Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Chloe Smith (NC State), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Kendal Woodard (GT) def. Christy Snipes (NC State), 6-2, 6-1
Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Sophie Nelson (NC State), 6-2, 6-2
Sunday, September 23
Doubles:
Elizabeth Kilborn / Kendal Woodard (GT) def. #24 Ecaterina Vasenina / Loreto Alonso (USF), 8-6
Alex Anghelescu / Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Paula Montoya / Kate Parker (USF), 9-8 (9-7)
Singles:
#23 Abigail Tere-Apisah (GSU) def. #94 Elizabeth Kilborn (GT), 6-3, 7-5
Natallia Vavulina (GSU) def. Jasmine Minor (GT), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Masa Grgan (GSU) def. Kendal Woodard (GT), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
Natasha Prokhnevska (GT) def. Chaimaa Roudami (GSU), 6-2, 6-3
–RamblinWreck.com–
