Tech has tough day at USTA/ITA Atlantic Championships

NORFOLK, Va. – The opening day of the United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Atlantic Region Championships proved to be a tough one for two members of the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team. The event, hosted by Old Dominion University, features some of the top players in the nation and is being held at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center.

In Thursday’s singles qualifying, Emily Lauten (So., Marietta, Ga.) defeated Arina Allueva (Old Dominion), 6-1, 6-4, before dropping a 6-4, 6-4, decision to Rashmi Teltumbde (Virginia). Isel Martinez-Marcos (Fr., Esparreguera, Spain) was eliminated, 7-5, 6-2, by Fernanda Perrotta (Penn State).

Tech has four players already in the singles main draw who will see their first action on Friday. Yasmin Hamza (Sr., Cairo, Egypt), the No. 11 seed, will face Aandria Carr (Towson) at 11 a.m., while Holly Johnson (Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.) battles No. 13 seed Stephanie Wetmore (Georgetown) in a noon match. Elsewhere, Shannon Betts (Jr., Newnan, Ga.) plays No. 7 seed Hana Tomijanovic (Virginia) in the first round at 12:30 p.m., and Martha Blakely (Jr., Reading, Pa.) takes on No. 8 seed Kateryna Yergina (VCU) at 3 p.m.

Only one of the three Tech doubles teams was in action on Thursday. Lauten/Martinez-Marcos were eliminated from the main draw as they dropped a tough, 9-7, match to Amanda Griffin/Kourtney Howell (Navy). Tech’s other two doubles teams of Hamza/Johnson, seeded No. 5 and ranked No. 34 nationally, and Betts/Blakely, the No. 8 seeds, received first round byes and will not see action until Friday.

The singles and doubles champions from the NCAA Division I USTA/ITA Regional Championships will advance to the 2010 USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, taking place November 4-7, at the new indoor facilities at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located in Flushing, N.Y. Columbia University will serve as the tournament host.

Twenty-four USTA/ITA Regional Championships for NCAA Division I men and women are taking place over the last two weekends of October at campuses throughout the country.

Results are available at http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=100947.