May 9, 2003
LOS ANGELES – A three-set win by Georgia Tech senior Mysti Morris at No. 4 singles clinched a 4-0 victory over Cal Poly in the first round of the NCAA Regional on Friday morning in Los Angeles, Calif. The University of Southern California is hosting the two-day event at the Dennis X. Marks Tennis Center.
“Obviously you always want to win your first-round match in any tournament, but especially so in the NCAA Championship,” said Tech head coach Bryan Shelton. “I’m proud of how the team played today, especially to have our senior Mysti Morris step up and clinch the match for us. We’re very excited to be playing for the chance to get to the round of 16 tomorrow and we’ll be ready for whoever we play.”
The Yellow Jackets (14-6) jumped on top of the Mustangs (20-7) early on by winning a pair of doubles matches to begin the day. Tech’s team of Kacie Anson and Sekita Grant were the first winners as they defeated Chelsy Thompson and Kristen Grady by an 8-4 score at No. 3. A win at No. 1 by the Jackets’ team of Kelly Anderson and Jaime Wong over Danielle Hustedt and Kate Romm by an 8-4 count clinched the point for Tech.
In singles play, the Yellow Jackets quickly increased their advantage to 3-0, with wins by freshman Kelly Anderson at No. 3 and junior Sekita Grant at No. 6. Anderson was solid in her match with Chelsy Thompson, as she cruised to a 6-2 first-set victory, before closing out the straight-set decision by a 6-4 score in the second frame. Grant was equally as impressive in her match-up with Kate Romm, winning in straight sets by scores of 6-3 and 6-2.
Morris would decide the match for Tech against Kristen Grady at No. 4 singles, needing three sets settle things. Morris won a tight first set by a 7-5 score, but struggled in the second, dropping a 6-2 decision. In the third set, she jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Grady rallied to close within 5-2, before Morris won the set and both her match and the team match on the third match point by a 6-2 score.
The Yellow Jackets will now await the winner of the match between fifth-ranked USC and Sacramento State in the regional final, which will take place on Saturday at 5 p.m. EST at the Marks Tennis Center. Live scoring of the match will be available at www.usctrojans.com.
#31 GEORGIA TECH 4, #54 CAL POLY 0DOUBLES1. Wong/Anderson (GT) d. Romm/Hustedt (CP), 8-42. Morris/Shosho (GT) vs. Galido/Waller (CP), 7-2, DNF3. Kacie Anson/Grant (GT) d. Grady/Thompson (CP), 8-4
SINGLES 1. Catherine Gunn (GT) vs. Danielle Hustedt (CP), 6-4, 2-6, 1-5, DNF 2. Jaime Wong (GT) vs. Samantha Waller (CP), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 1-0, DNF 3. Kelly Anderson (GT) d. Chelsy Thompson (CP), 6-2, 6-4 4. Mysti Morris (GT) d. Kristen Grady (CP), 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 5. Lyndsay Shosho (GT) vs. Sheila Lewis (CP), 6-7, 4-5, DNF 6. Sekita Grant (GT) d. Kate Romm (CP), 6-3, 6-2
