Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech sophomore Natalie Novotna is set to open the 2018 NCAA Women's Singles Championships on Wednesday May 23 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Novotna, ranked 49th, will begin competition at 10:30 a.m. as she takes on No. 23 Michaela Bayerlova from Washington State. The Cougars' freshman was recently named the ITA Northwest Region Player to Watch after posting a 27-5 record on the season.
Novotna has been ranked throughout the season for the Hokies, including a season-high 25th earlier in the year. Novotna had a big win in the ACC Championships, knocking off the nation's No. 19 Carla Touly in straight sets (6-0, 6-4). This season Novotna has six wins over ranked opponents and has a 16-10 record at the one. She has a 24-12 overall tally on the year after a strong fall, in which, Novotna claimed the ITA Atlantic Region title and represented the Hokies at the ITA Fall Nationals.
Novotna becomes the third Hokie under head coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods to be selected to the field, following behind former Tech players Francesca Fusinato and Inga Beerman.
The winner of the match between Novotna and Bayerlova will advance to play the winner between No. 17 Ashley Lahey of Pepperdine and No. 23 Marie Leduc of Clemson on Thursday.