University of Washington
ITA National Indoor Championships
Chan And Dy Both Win National Indoor Openers
November 05, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Nov. 5, 2009
National Indoor Championships Bracket
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Washington's touted twosome of junior Venise Chan and sophomore Denise Dy each picked up opening round victories today at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, hosted by Yale. Chan and Dy are now each through to the Round of 16 at college tennis' second major of the season.
The elite field of just 32 entrants was cut in half today, and the Husky pair made the cut. Washington and 2009 NCAA runner-up California are now the only teams with two players remaining in the field of 16. Friday will feature Round of 16 matches as well as the Quarterfinals in the afternoon should Chan and Dy advance again.
Dy was up first against Florida State's Noemie Scharle. Seeded seventh overall, Dy has made her preseason No. 58 national ranking nearly irrelevant, but still was up against a tough opponent in Scharle, ranked 24th. It was Dy's first match since winning the Northwest Regional Championship two weeks ago, and she seemed to pick up right where she left off with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Next, Dy will have to face Stanford's Hilary Barte, the 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year, who Dy upset en route to the Regional title.
Chan, the No. 8 seed, got off to a quick start against Stephanie Kent of Yale, winning the first set, 6-2. But the home favorite stepped up with a 6-1 win in the second set to extend the match. In a tight third set, Chan was able to overcome Kent's home court advantage, 6-4, to move on. She'll next face Kristy Frilling of Notre Dame, ranked 20th in the national polls.
This is the first time any Huskies have qualified for this event since 2004, when All-American Dea Sumantri reached the quarterfinals. Former Husky Kristina Kraszewski made it all the way to the finals in 2000.
Washington Women's Tennis
ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
11/5/09 - West Haven, Conn. - Yale University
Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center
Singles
First Round - 32 Players
(8) Venise Chan (UW) def. Stephanie Kent (Yale), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
