LOCATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

The Sweet Briar tennis team is currently participating in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Southeast Region Championships being held at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. 

It was a full day of intense competition against some of the nation's top teams, including #3 Emory University, #29 Rhodes College, and #30 University of the South/Sewanee.  There are two separate draws in the tournament: Championship "A" singles and doubles; as well as "B" singles and doubles.

There are six Sweet Briar players  representing the Vixens this weekend in this limited-draw event:

• Senior Virginia Edahl (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Senior Leslie Polaski (Amherst, Va.)
• Sophomore Krista Maldonado (Ennis, Texas)
• First-Year Moriah Burke (Rockville, Md.)
• First-Year Sarah Manter (Brunswick, Maine)
• First-Year Ann Roach (North Oaks, Minn.)

Today's highlights include four overall singles wins, and the doubles team of players Virginia Edahl and Moriah Burke advancing in the main championship "A" doubles flight.  Burke will also advance in the consolation round of the championship "A" singles flight.

The championship "A" singles draw placed Virginia Edahl against regionally ranked Sewanee player Tellatin (#25).  Edahl settled into her game plan a tad late and lost the first set 6-3.  The second set was played with hard-hitting groundstrokes and solid play by both players, but Tellatin grabbed the win in the set tie-breaker with a well-placed volley on the sideline. 

The next round for Edahl was in the backdraw against Methodist College's Davis.  Another close match for a battling Edahl, but the win went to Methodist, 8-6.

Moriah Burke also played in the championship "A" draw.  In her first ITA tournament, Burke went up against Sewanee's Flume (#17) and showed her capability to compete at a high level.  Although the level of play was competitive, Burke lost this match in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. 

Second round play for Burke took place in the consolation bracket, where Moriah quickly recovered from her first round lost and handily beat her opponent Phipps from Rhodes with a decisive score of 8-1.  Burke will continue consolation singles play on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Emory student center courts.

In exciting championship "A" flight doubles play, the team of Edahl and Burke played with high energy and quick hands to take their first round win against the Mississippi College team of Boyles-Newman, 9-7. 

After a short break Edahl-Burke went in for their final match of the day against Millsaps team Zakaras-Brown.  The Sweet Briar team took the set with great teamwork, winning 8-4. 

Edahl-Burke will take on the nationally ranked (#19, ITA June '09) Dawson-McManigle of Emory University on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Emory Woodruff courts.

In today's "B" flight singles action:

• Leslie Polaski defeated Coats (Millsaps), 6-4, 6-0; lost in second round to Jackson (Huntingdon), 6-2, 6-0
• Krista Maldonado defeated Nance (Oglethorpe), 2-6, 7-6, 6-1; lost in second round to Heetland (Huntingdon), 6-3, 1-6, 0-6
• Sarah Manter lost to Cole (Sewanee), 6-1, 6-1; lost to Deloach (Agnes Scott) 6-4,6-1
• Ann Roach defeated Duff (Oglethorpe) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; lost in second round to Moak (Mississippi) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles "B":

• Maldonado-Roach lost to Jones-Deloach (Agnes Scott) 8-6
• Polaski-Manter lost to Powell-Davis (Methodist) 8-2

For more information and results for the 2009 Wilson/ITA Southeast Championships, please click here.