October 10, 2008
Hokies sweep doubles at Sergio Tecchini Invite
Tech freshmen win two doubles divisions

NORFOLK, Va. --- Youth was served for Virginia Tech on the opening day of the Sergio Tacchini Collegiate Invitational. Tech won two doubles divisions on the first day of the tournament which was dedicated solely to doubles play. The three-day event (Oct. 10-12) is being played at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center and at the Old Dominion University outdoor tennis complex.

Shannon Betts (Fr., Newnan, Ga.) and Katie Blow (Fr., Richmond, Va.) took the B-1 doubles division with three victories. The Tech pair opened with an easy 8-0 win over Joy Adewumi/Emily Mannix (Maryland-Baltimore County) then defeated Casey Conklin/Hilary Valenzuela (Manhattan), 8-2, in the semifinals.
They won the division with an 8-0 blanking of Lauren Cloonan/Caitlin White (Towson).

The mixed team of Courtney Rauscher (Evans, Ga., VT) and Mihaela Buena (Virginia Commonwealth) won three matches to take the A-2 division title. The duo defeated Meredith Cutchin/Lindsay Gray (George Mason), 8-2, in their opening match then picked up a 8-1 semifinal victory over Zineb Hilali/Gozde Unkaya (Drexel). They won the division, 8-4, over Elena Berry/Jo Jo Gruber (Delaware)

The tournament includes players from Christopher Newport, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Drexel, George Mason, George Washington, Hampton, Howard, James Madison, Lafayette, Liberty, Loyola, Manhattan, Mary Washington, Maryland-Baltimore County, New Jersey Tech, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Towson, Army, Villanova, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech and Virginia Wesleyan.

The final two days of the tournament will be utilized for singles play with all three Virginia Tech players seeing action in three separate divisions.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WTennis).

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