May 8, 2008
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s third-ranked women’s tennis team will begin the defense of their 2007 NCAA title this weekend when they host Alcorn State, Illinois and Tennessee in the first two rounds of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets (19-5) open the tournament as the No. 3 seed, and will face Alcorn State (13-12) Friday at 12 p.m. in opening-round action.
The winner of that match advances to a second round meeting with either Illinois or Tennessee, scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. The NCAAs continue with the Round of 16 beginning May 15 in Tulsa, Okla.
The Yellow Jackets will meet Alcorn State for the first time in program history Friday. With a win, the Jackets will reach the second round for the seventh straight season. Tech is 1-0 all-time against possible second round opponent Illinois and 0-1 in its only matchup against Tennessee.
Kristi Miller, the senior All-American from Marysville, Mich., leads a Tech lineup that features a school-record five individuals selected to the NCAA Singles Tournament with a 32-9 record. She is joined by sophomore Amanda McDowell, who earned her first career singles All-American honor with a No. 7 national seed and a 36-8 overall singles record.
Joining McDowell and Miller in the 64-player singles draw will be senior Whitney McCray, who has a 24-10 singles record, sophomore Kirsten Flower, who is 25-9, and Maya Johansson, a freshman that has posted a 29-7 record in her first season on the Flats.
McCray and Miller will represent Tech in the doubles tournament after they went 9-3 during the season, with all nine of their wins coming during a strong fall campaign by the senior duo.
ATLANTA REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 9
Match 1: Georgia Tech (19-5) vs. Alcorn State (13-12), 12 noon
Match 2: Illinois (12-10) vs. Tennessee (14-9), 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
Match 3: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 1 p.m.
TICKETS
Single Day, Adult — $5
Single Day, Student — $3
Single Day, Child — $3
All tickets will be sold at the gate, which opens at 11 a.m. Friday and 12 noon Saturday. Fans may also call 1-888-TECH-TIX for details.
– RamblinWreck.com –
