INDIANAPOLIS-- The NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Committee has selected the individuals who will compete in the singles and doubles portion of the championships. Fresno State freshman Jelena Pandzic was selected to compete in both the singles and doubles tournaments.
Pandzic has dropped only four sets all year, two coming in her only loss, a 7-5, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Margarita Karnaukhova of Sacramento State on April 11. In doubles, Pandzic and partner Lucia Tallo were also rewarded with an NCAA doubles bid. The duo went 18-2 this year and ride a 13-match winning streak into the NCAA's. Fresno State plays in the West Region.
Tulsas Daniela Muscolino, the nation's 51st-ranked singles player, will be making her first NCAA Tournament appearance. Muscolino has registered a 23-7 singles record, including a 6-2 mark against ranked opponents this year. She has also earned all-WAC first team singles and doubles accolades this season. Muscolino was chosen from the Central Region.
SMUs Svetlana Kouzmenko was chosen as one of eight singles alternates. Tulsas Muscolino and Ilona Somers were chosen as doubles alternates.
First and second round competition of the team championship will be conducted May 14-16 with the winner of each site advancing to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga., hosted by the University of Georgia. The team championship will be held May 20-23. The singles and doubles championships will be held May 24-29.
Singles and doubles brackets will not be finalized until May 23, the day prior to the start of the singles tournament.