May 25, 2007
Athens, Ga.–Georgia Tech’s Kristi Miller advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championship for the second straight year with a three-set win over Nina Henkel of California, Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Miller, the junior all-America from Marysville, Mich., is seeking an NCAA singles title to go along with the NCAA team championship she helped the Yellow Jackets win earlier this week. The No. 6 seed in the singles draw now plays Saturday, at a time to be determined, against Lindsey Nelson of Southern California, the fourth seed.
Miller jumped on the 22nd-ranked Henkel, winning the first set 6-2. But Henkel answered with a 6-2 win in the second set and then led 2-0 in the third before Miller won four straight games and six of the last seven. She broke Henkel’s serve in the final game to win the match, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
“I knew I was in for a tough match,” said Miller, whose teammate, Amanda Craddock, defeated Henkel at No. 3 singles in Tech’s NCAA semifinal win over the Bears. “At this stage of the tournament, every match is tough. After I won the first set, I knew she would start playing better.
“I didn’t respond as well as I would have liked in the second set, but I think made some good corrections in the third. I pressed too much in the second set, but in the third, I just tried to get a more solid base and make her play longer points and keep her on the defensive.”
Tech’s all-time leader in singles wins, Miller improved her overall record on the season to 34-10 and upped her career slate to 117-28. She reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA as a freshman and then advanced to the quarterfinals last year.
GEORGIA TECH IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kristi Miller, NO. 6 SEED Round of 64: d. Nadia Abdala, Arizona State, 6-3, 6-3 Round of 32: d. Amanda Fish, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 6-2 Round of 16: d. Nina Henkel, California, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Kirsten Flower Round of 64: l. Melanie Gloria, Fresno State, 6-2, 6-2
Kristi Miller / Whitney McCray, NO. 3 SEED Round of 32: l. Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva of UNLV, 6-1, 6-2
Alison Silverio / Amanda Craddock Round of 32: l. Alexis Prousis/Georgia Rose of Northwestern, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
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