Sept. 16, 2009
Due to likely inclement weather, Friday’s matches will now begin at 9:30 a.m. Georgia Tech players are expected to begin singles play at 1:30 p.m.
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s tennis team will open its 2009-10 campaign this weekend when it hosts the Georgia Tech Fall Invitational at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
The Yellow Jackets will face opponents from Georgia, Princeton and Miami in a three-day flighted tournament, which begins Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday’s matches will get underway at 10 a.m., while Sunday’s will commence at 9 a.m.
“It is a great tournament,” head coach Bryan Shelton said. “It has developed into a great way for our team to get started in the fall season. It will give us a good idea of how far along we are and what we still have to work on as we go through the fall.”
Georgia Tech, who finished the 2009 season ranked eighth in the nation, reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.
Senior Amanda McDowell leads a group of six returning letterwinners, including sophomore All-American Irina Falconi, junior Sasha Krupina and sophomores Viet Ha Ngo, Hillary Davis and Lynn Blau. Tech also welcomes highly-touted freshman Elizabeth Kilburn for the upcoming season.
“There are three great teams coming in,” Shelton said. “Starting with Georgia, one of the top school’s in the country, Miami and Princeton. We are going to have some great matches all weekend long. It will be great for the fans to come out and watch.”
Georgia, coming off a Final Four appearance at the 2009 NCAA Tournament, was ranked No. 3 in last season’s final ITA poll. Sophomore Chelsey Gullickson leads the way for the Bulldogs after reaching the semifinals of the 2009 NCAA Singles Tournament.
Miami closed out the 2009 season ranked seventh in the final ITA poll. The Hurricanes, who reached the 2009 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, returns NCAA singles runner-up Laura Vallverdu.
Princeton finished the 2009 season ranked No. 45 in the nation. The Tigers are coming off their first Ivy League title and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years.
Results for all matches will be posted on RamblinWreck.com following the conclusion of doubles and singles each day.
– RamblinWreck.com –
