National Small College Championships website
Division III women’s singles draw (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. -- Carleton College sophomore Kathryn Schmidt (Hopkins, Minn.) finished her weekend of action at the ITA National Small College Championships in dramatic fashion, prevailing 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), and 7-6 (7-1) in a nearly four hour-long match. Schmidt captured fifth place as she capped a tournament that saw her defeat the defending national singles champion on Friday.
On Saturday, Schmidt and Lia Weiner of the University of Rochester (N.Y.) locked in an epic battle.
“Both players had phenomenal matches,” said Carleton head coach Luciano Battaglini. “Kathryn could not have played any better. This was a great way to finish her weekend.”
In Friday’s match, Schmidt dispatched of Lorne McManigle of Emory University, 6-1, 2-6, and 6-1. McManigle was the top seed in the tournament and the 2009 NCAA Division III singles champion. It was a solid bounce-back result after Schmidt’s opening-round loss (6-4, 6-0) on Thursday to Julia Browne of Tufts University.
Of Friday’s victory, Battaglini said, “This is a very important win for not only Kathryn but the entire women’s tennis program at Carleton. It’s a great national win.”
Schmidt earned a spot at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) championship by winning the singles draw at one of the eight ITA Regional competitions in late September. The entire singles field is comprised of sophomores and juniors.
These championships, presented the United States Tennis Association, are being hosted by the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center, the world's largest public tennis facility.
This event, administered by the ITA, dates back to 1986 and determines national champions for NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College men's and women's singles and doubles during the first two-and-a-half days of play. Those champions then compete to become the overall national small college champs (for all divisions) on October 17-18 in the ITA "Super Bowl" of Small College Tennis.
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