Thursday, October 23, 2003

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 23, 2003) - Two women's tennis players fell in the qualifying singles draw held in the first day of competition at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C. Seniors Courtney McInnis (Waterboro, Maine) and Jessica Irey (Clewiston, Fla.) fell to opponents from the tournament's host Wake Forest. McInnis fell to Sandie Knight 6-0, 6-0, while Irey fell to Aimee Smith 6-1, 6-3. "Both Courtney and Jessica were able to face some of the demons from before," said head coach Steve Brooks. "Hopefully this brings them one step closer to overcoming them." In main draw doubles competition, the pair of Irey and Sylwia Ziolkowska (Warsaw, Poland) fell to Wofford's Ellen Rogers and Wendy Rohr 8-6. "Jessica and Sylwia played together for the first time today. They played a hard fought match and almost beat the third ranked pair in the conference," commented Brooks. The five day tournament continues tomorrow with the start of main draw singles action. Ziolkowska will have a tough match as she faces Lara Maurer from the University of Kentucky, who ranks in the top 100. Thursday's Results for the ITA Southeast Regional Championships Qualifying Singles Round of 32 Sandie Knight (WFU) def. Courtney McInnis (ETSU) 6-0, 6-0 Aimee Smith (WFU) def. Jessica Irey (ETSU) 6-1, 6-3 Doubles Rogers/Rohr (Wofford) def. Irey/Ziolkowska (ETSU) 8-6