2008 Woodie Awards
Tennis duo has strong showing in national tournament
Abby Lee
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
By Abby Lee
Staff Reporter
Two of UTC's women tennis players, Anastasia Zhukova and Lindsey Ballard, competed this week in Los Angeles at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships presented by Fila.
Known to be one of the top hard court events of the season, the championship includes many of the top collegiate tennis players.
Zhukova just nearly missed her chance to play in the Main Draw of the competition this year.
Nationally ranked at No. 94, Zhukova was given an open spot in the Qualifying Singles. In close competition with No. 27th ranked Jenna Long, of North Carolina, Zhukova lost the 6-4, 6-4 match.
Winning would have placed her in the top 32 of the main draw.
In the first round Anastasia defeated Virginia's Jennifer Stevens 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 and Washington State's Amy Toth 6-0, 6-2 in the second round.
Although she fell to Auburn's Fani Chifchieva, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the third round, she was able to continue the competition with a Lucky Loser entry.
In the Qualifying Draw, Zhukova defeated Virginia Tech's Inga Beerman 6-3, 6-2 and Texas Christian University's Anna Sydroska 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9).
Beerman is ranked 37th and Sydorska 80th in the ITA Preseason National Collegiate rankings.
"Lindsey and Anastasia represented Chattanooga extremely well," UTC head coach Tom Lowry said. "A lot of people were asking where they were from, and it gave them a lot of exposure."
Partners Lindsey Ballard and Zhukova, ranked 47th nationally, lost to the TCU team in an 8-6 match. The TCU team is Ana Cetnik and Anna Sydorska, who are ranked 24th.
Staff Reporter
Two of UTC's women tennis players, Anastasia Zhukova and Lindsey Ballard, competed this week in Los Angeles at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships presented by Fila.
Known to be one of the top hard court events of the season, the championship includes many of the top collegiate tennis players.
Zhukova just nearly missed her chance to play in the Main Draw of the competition this year.
Nationally ranked at No. 94, Zhukova was given an open spot in the Qualifying Singles. In close competition with No. 27th ranked Jenna Long, of North Carolina, Zhukova lost the 6-4, 6-4 match.
Winning would have placed her in the top 32 of the main draw.
In the first round Anastasia defeated Virginia's Jennifer Stevens 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 and Washington State's Amy Toth 6-0, 6-2 in the second round.
Although she fell to Auburn's Fani Chifchieva, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the third round, she was able to continue the competition with a Lucky Loser entry.
In the Qualifying Draw, Zhukova defeated Virginia Tech's Inga Beerman 6-3, 6-2 and Texas Christian University's Anna Sydroska 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9).
Beerman is ranked 37th and Sydorska 80th in the ITA Preseason National Collegiate rankings.
"Lindsey and Anastasia represented Chattanooga extremely well," UTC head coach Tom Lowry said. "A lot of people were asking where they were from, and it gave them a lot of exposure."
Partners Lindsey Ballard and Zhukova, ranked 47th nationally, lost to the TCU team in an 8-6 match. The TCU team is Ana Cetnik and Anna Sydorska, who are ranked 24th.
