FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9-28-01

AASU Hosts ITA Women's Tennis Southeast Regional This Weekend

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Many of the top NCAA Division II women's tennis players in the nation converge on Savannah this weekend as Armstrong Atlantic State hosts the ITA Women's Tennis Southeast Regional beginning on Saturday.

Forty-two players representing nine schools will compete in singles and doubles play for the chance to advance to the ITA National Championships in Dallas, Texas, on October 19-21.

The top seed in the tournament is Armstrong Atlantic State sophomore Zsofi Golopencza. The ITA Division II Freshman of the Year in 2000-2001, Golopencza finished the year ranked No. 2 in the nation, earning ITA All-America honors. AASU senior Michaela Kratochvilova is seeded second after earning ITA Division II All-America honors for the second straight year and finishing the 2000-2001 season with a No. 9 national ranking. Rounding out the seedings are a couple of players from Clayton College & State University, Jackeline Nieto (No. 3) and Nathalia Collantes (No. 4), who helped the Lady Lakers to the Peach Belt Conference regular season title in 2001.

The top-seeded doubles duo are AASU's Golopencza and Kratochvilova, the No. 3-ranked doubles team in the nation in 2000-2001. Nieto and Collantes from CC&SU are seeded second in doubles as well.

Kennesaw State University's doubles team of Eva Andrews and Loraine Rosmuller are seeded third, while the Columbus State University duo of Natasha Stoop and Jessica Spencer are seeded fourth.

Other teams sending players to the ITA Southeast Regional include: Augusta State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Mississippi University for Women and UNC Pembroke.

Play begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday and continues through Monday.

- Pirates -