Marshall University Athletics
Kissell Claims ITA Atlantic Regional Championship Crown
10/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 25, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. - Heading into the ITA Atlantic Regional as the top seed, Michaela Kissell of the Marshall University tennis team left the tournament hoisting the trophy as she made her way through the 64-player main draw and was crowned the top player in the Atlantic Region.
"Michaela put forward a great effort this weekend," head coach John Mercer said. "She beat a lot of very good players. As the tournament went on, there were opportunities where she could have lost a match but she kept fighting.
"Sometimes you have to have determination and will power and she showed that this weekend," Mercer continued. "She was willing to make adjustments and she fought for every point, but that is what we have come to expect from her. It was a great mental effort and I am proud of the way she played."
Kissell, the 41st ranked player in the nation, won four of her six matches in straight sets.
The Monday morning finals paired Marshall's ace with Petra Januskova of Penn State. The first set was closely contested as Kissell came out on top 7-5. From there, Kissell would carry that momentum into the second set as she blanked the Nittany Lion, 6-0, to take the title.
Winning the Atlantic Regional Championship qualifies Kissell for the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship which will be hosted at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., scheduled for Nov. 4-7.
In their Atlantic Region doubles championship defense, Michaela Kissell and Dominika Zaprazna came up two points shy of back-to-back titles. The No.20 Herd duo defeated the 13th ranked team in the nation of Hardenbergh/Vierra of Virginia in the semifinals, 8-2, but was nipped 8-6 in the finals by Fuccillo/Teltumbde of Virginia.
Players Mentioned
