For Immediate Release: Janaury 29, 2006
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Umeki makes successful debut at Cornell Women's Tennis Winter Invitational

ITHACA, N.Y.--Freshman Juliana Umeki (Mogidas Cruces, Brazil.), who just arrived from on campus last week, advanced to the C Singles Flight finals at the Cornell Winter Women's Tennis Invitational, which were completed on Sunday afternoon. She was one of three Binghamton players who advanced to at least the semifinals in the three-day event.

After winning her first-round match on Friday and second-round match on Saturday, Umeki defeated Marlena Hall of Columbia 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals before coming up short against Columbia's Kara Worsley in the finals by scores of 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

"For someone who has only been in the country one week, Juliana looked very good this weekend," head coach Mike Stevens said. "She has a great college career ahead of her."

Junior Lya Kushnirovich (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who earlier in the tournament defeated regionally-ranked Sydney Murray of Columbia, lost to eventual champion Milena Kachar (also of Columbia) in the A Singles Flight semifinals 6-4, 6-2. Kachar is ranked No. 8 in the current ITA Northeast Regional Rankings while Murray is ranked No. 27.

In the B Singles Flight, Jelena Koprivica (Belgrade, Serbia) advaned to the semifinals before losing to Molly Condit of Columbia 6-2, 6-2.

Sophomore Jenn Naegeli (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) won the B Singles Consolation finals while fellow sophomore Gayarthri Balasundar (Syosset, N.Y.) won the D consolation finals over freshman teammate Alex Sinclair (Manhasset, N.Y.) 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Altinay and Kushnirovich advanced to the semifinals of the A Doubles Flight.


COMPLETE RESULTS

"A" SINGLES FLIGHT

Zeynep Altinay (BING) def Megan Noble (ARMY) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Molly Edinson (CORNELL) def. Zeynep Altinay (BING) 7-5, 6-1

Altinay advanced to the main draw second round

Lya Kushnirovich (BING) def. Tamara John (CORNELL) 7-5, 6-1
Lya Kushnirovich (BING) def. Sydney Murray (COLUMBIA) 6-2, 7-5
Milena Kachar (COLUMBIA) def. Lya Kushnirovich (BING) 6-4, 6-2

Kushirovich advanced to the main draw semifinals

"B" SINGLES FLIGHT

Jelena Koprivica (BING) def. Lauren Shearer (COLUMBIA) 6-4. 6-4
Jelena Koprivica (BING) def. Lill Voss (COLGATE) 6-2, 6-1
Molly Condit (COLUMBIA) def. Jelena Korpvicia (BING) 6-2, 6-2

Koprivica advanced to the main draw semifinals

Catherine Dubek (CORNELL) def. Jenn Naegeli (BING) 7-6 (4), 6-0
Jenn Naegeli (BING) def. Paulina Gamboa (BUCKNELL) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Jenn Naegeli (BING) def. Lindsay Grossman (COLGATE) 6-4, 6-1
Jenn Naegeli (BING) def. Diana Alquero (ARMY) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Naegeli wins consolation finals

"C" SINGLES FLIGHT

Julianna Umeki (BING) def. Joanna Woo (UMBC) 6-0, 6-4
Julianna Umeki (BING) def. Shayna Miller (CORNELL) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Julianna Umeki (BING) def. Marlena Hall (COLUMBIA) 6-4, 6-3
Kara Worsley (COLUMBIA) def. Julianna Umeki (BING) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2

Umeki advanced to the main draw finals

Liying Wang (CORNELL) def. Nicole Scarangella (BING) 6-3, 6-1
Nicole Scarangella (BING) def. Joanna Grossman (BUCKNELL) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
Ashley Ebbert (CORNELL) def. Nicole Scarangella (BING) 6-0, 6-2

Scarangella advanced to the consolation semifinals

"D" SINGLES FLIGHT

Weatherly Schwab (CORNELL) def. Gayarthri Balasundar (BING) 3-6, 6-3. 6-0
Gayarthri Balasundar (BING) def. Emily Porter (UMBC) by withdrawal
Gayarthri Balasundar (BING) def. Alex Sinclair (BING) 6-4, 7-6 (4)

Balasundar wins consolation finals

Kate Buffet (BUCKNELL) def. Alex Sinclair (BING) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Alex Sinclair (BING) defl Lauren Levy (COLGATE) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Alex Sinclair (BING) def. Kate Serrurier (COLGATE) 6-2, 7-5
Gayarthri Balasundar (BING) def. Alex Sinclair (BING) 6-4, 7-6 (4)

Sinclair advances to consolation finals


"A" DOUBLES FLIGHT

Altinay & Kushnirovich (BING) def. Noble & Giles (ARMY) 8-3
Altinay & Kushnirovich (BING) def. Hall & Murray (COLUMBIA) 8-6
Edinson & Miller (CORNELL) def. Kushnirovich & Altinay (BING) 9-8 (6)

Altinay & Kushnirovich advance to main draw semifinals

Koprivica & Naegeli (BING) def. Seaton & Couture (COLGATE) 8-4
Edinson & Miller (CORNELL) def. Koprivica & Naegeli (BING) 8-2

Koprivica & Naegeli advance to main draw second round

"B" DOUBLES FLIGHT

Woo & Adewumi (UMBC) def. Balasundar & Sinclair (BING) 8-2
Cruite & Schwab (CORNELL) def. Balasundar & Sinclair (BING) 8-2

Paluch & Flach (ARMY) def. Umek & Scarangella (BING) 8-3
Sheaer & Vernet (COLUMBIA) def. Umek & Scarangella (BING) 8-2

PLEASE NOTE: Hall & Murray were the No. 2 seeded doubles team in the tournament