Aug. 29, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. -
Six Bulldogs have been selected to compete in the ITA All-American Championship tournament at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The tournament will begin with the prequalifying matches on Sept. 27 and will run through Oct. 5. Fresno State has always been well represented at the tournament and, with six Bulldogs selected; this year will be no different. The six Bulldogs were selected by a committee of representatives from eight different regions, based on the previous year's rankings as well as individual achievement.
Melanie Gloria and Anastasia Petukhova have been selected to play in the main draw of the tournament, beginning on Oct. 2. This is Gloria's third straight appearance in the tournament. Last year, Gloria reached the Round of 16 before falling 6-2, 6-1 to Riza Zalameda of UCLA. Petukhova participated in the All-American Championships last year as well, winning two matches in the qualifying tournament. Petukhova took Sanaz Marand of North Carolina to three sets, before dropping the match, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Gloria and Petukhova will also join teammates Tinesta Rowe, and Renata Kucerkova in the main draw of the doubles tournament. Fresno State is the only school with two doubles teams in the main draw of the tournament. Gloria and Rowe are poised to build on last season's success that sent them to the doubles final of the NCAA Championships. Petukhova and Kucerkova will also be ready to show that they belong among the countries' elite doubles teams, after making a spectacular run to the semifinals of the last season's doubles tournament of the NCAA Championships.
"Similar to last year's NCAA Championships, having two teams represented in the doubles main draw shows the type of outstanding performers we have," said head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "Having two singles in the main draw is a good sign of the strength of our team."
Rowe was selected to play in the singles prequalifying tournament, as well as earning a bid to the qualifying tournament as an alternate. Kucerkova will also compete in the prequalifying tournament as a singles competitor.
Bulldog newcomer Abigail Olivier, a freshman from South Africa, was selected as an alternate for the singles prequalifying tournament. Olivier also received an alternate nod for the doubles prequalifying tournament with teammate Laura Pola, a freshman from Canada.
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