Tennis Poised to Continue Strong Start Entering Eastern Championships

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall tennis team travels to the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. this weekend to take part in the Eastern Intercollegiate Championships.

One of 20 teams listed in the field, the Pirates will be looking to build on an impressive start to the fall season that saw them take home three titles from last week's Quinnipiac Invitational.

"There is no question that the field in this tournament is deep," said Head coach Greg Wyzykowski. "The team showed some good signs last week and I will be looking for us to remain competitive this week. I feel as if this tournament offers a heightened level of competition and it is our responsibility to continue to raise our level of play."

The Eastern Intercollegiate Championships is an extensive competition that is divided into main draws for each flight of both singles and doubles play. The bracket also includes a number of consolation rounds, allowing players who drop a match to continue play.

"Our goal at every tournament is to be there at the end and be in contention for titles," Wyzykowski said. "However, a consolation draw as large as this one provides an excellent opportunity for our players to gain experience and continue to improve should they fall out of the main draw."

All team members will play this weekend as "The Hall" will send four players to the singles main draw and two teams will enter the main draw of doubles competition.

Sophomores Pui Wing Sher (Shui Wai, Hong Kong) and Rocio Portela (Demetrio Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) lead the Pirates' singles entries and will be joined by senior Elizabeth Verow (Barnt Green, England) and freshman Madison Shoemaker (Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia).

Fresh off the first Quinnipiac Invitational doubles title in Seton Hall history, Karina Cordero (Maracay Estado Aragua, Venezuela) and Courtney Kilarski (Roseville, Calif.) will once again team as one of SHU's doubles pairings. Last year, Kilarski was the top finisher for the Pirates at this tournament, placing fourth in the main draw of D flight singles play.

Quinnipiac Invitational D flight singles champion Maria Del Rosario Rodriguez (Bogotá, Colombia) reunites with Anna Guryanova (Moscow, Russia) whom she defeated in the finals match to make up the Pirates' second doubles team.

Seton Hall did not enter the doubles draw at this tournament last year.

"We have been working on playing an aggressive brand of tennis," said Wyzykowski. "Karina and Courtney did a great job of getting off the baseline last week and controlling play at the net. This approach played a large role in the success they experienced last week. I will be looking for them to continue to play this way and for our young players to take strides towards playing more assertively as well."

Play at the Eastern Intercollegiate Championships begins Friday, September 23. Full days of matches will continue through Monday, September 26.