Friday, January 27, 2012

Defending A-Sun Tournament champion begins 2012 season

BRISTOL, Tenn.  (Jan. 27, 2012) – The defending Atlantic Sun Tournament champion ETSU women’s tennis team serves up its 2012 spring season when it travels to Bristol, Tenn. for a matchup with Radford on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Leading ETSU will be senior Paula Jaime (Madrid, Spain), who is currently ranked No. 115 by the ITA in D-I women’s singles play. Jaime achieved her first-ever ranking after compiling a 12-3 record through ITA sanctioned fall tournaments, including an incredible run through the back draw of the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships to claim the consolation title. The senior is also ranked No. 11 in the Ohio Valley region.

Joining Jaime atop the Ohio Valley region is fellow classmate and last year’s Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP Karina Kedzo (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela). The doubles duo is currently slated as the region’s No. 10 team after going 7-5 through the fall season, which included wins over doubles teams from No. 67 Winthrop, No.62 Wake Forest, Kentucky and Louisville. Kedzo also earned a fall singles title, winning the singles championship at the USC Upstate Invitational.

Also putting together an impressive fall was newcomer Jessica Brumit (Elizabethton, Tenn.). The freshman went 7-3 in her three ITA tournaments, compiling a winning record at each event and advancing to the Flight D final at the Hokie Fall Invite.

Radford (1-0) opened its season on Sunday, Jan. 22, with a 7-0 victory against Milligan, and will play against Elon on Friday before traveling to Bristol for its matchup with ETSU. Last year, the Highlanders went 6-15, 2-5 Big South, and lost in the first round of the Big South Tournament to No. 3-seeded Liberty.

For more information on ETSU tennis, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the tennis links.