Tennis wins back-to-back ACC titles
By Jamie Howell / Student Publications
Sophomore Kristi Miller finshed the season by being named ITA National Player to Watch as well as earning All-American Honors.
The women's tennis team finished their season 23-6 as they won their second consecutive ACC title and advanced to the NCAA Round of Sixteen.
This marked the first ACC championship for any Tech team in 2006.
The Jackets earned a No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament by going 9-2 in ACC play this season.
Tech got to the ACC championship game by easily defeating N.C. State 4-0, and Clemson 4-1.
In the championship match on April 23. Tech faced No. 9 Miami.
Kelly Anderson, Kristi Miller and Christy Striplin all won their singles matches to help propel Tech over Miami, 4-1.
The top player in the nation, Kristi Miller, was named the tournament MVP.
This marks the first time in history that Tech has won back-to-back ACC championships.
After the ACC tournament Tech earned a No. 6 seeding and hosted the NCAA Atlanta Regional at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
In the first round the Jackets cruised past Southeastern Louisiana 4-0. In that match Whitney McCray/Kelly Anderson garnered the doubles point with Anderson, Miller, and Stripling claiming singles wins.
Tech's next opponent was Penn which had claimed a victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the opening round.
The match against Penn seemed very similar to Tech's win over Southeastern Louisiana as Tech blanked the Quakers 4-0.
Miller, Lyndsay Shosho, and Alison Silverio won their singles matches, with the top doubles team of Miller/Shosho winning their doubles point to claim the fourth point of the match.
With the win the Jackets advanced to the NCAA championships hosted by Stanford University on May 18.
Tech faced the 11th seeded and No.9 Wildcats of Northwestern University.
The Wildcats upset the Jackets 4-0, halting the Jacket' season.
Miller/Shosho and Anderson/McCray lost both their doubles matches 8-4 to allow Northwestern to claim the doubles points.
In the singles competition, Shosho, Alison Silverio and Taryn Rudman all lost their matches to allow Northwestern to claim the victory.
The loss concluded the team's play for the year but two players continued on in other post-season play.
Top-ranked and No. 2 seed Miller as well as Shosho advanced as they competed in the NCAA singles and doubles championship.
In the singles tournament, Miller first beat Pepperdine's Bianca Dulgheru in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Shosho lost her opening match 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 to Kentucky's Kim Coventry.
Miller then advanced to the Round of Sixteen by defeating Duke's Jackie Carleton 6-3, 6-2.
On May 26. Miller defeated the No. 13 seed from Northwestern Cristelle Grier 6-1,6-1, to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Miller however was stopped short in the tournament by Stanford's Theresa Logar by falling in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 on May 27.
In the doubles tournament, the duo of Miller/ Shosho made it all the way to the Round of Sixteen before being defeated by Northwestern's Cristelle Grier/ Alexis Prousis.
The loss eliminated Tech from NCAA Women's Tennis Championship to eliminate Tech from the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships.
Miller and Shosho did however win All-American honors for their doubles play this season. Miller also earned another special recognition for her outstanding singles play this season. She was named the ITA National Player to Watch for 2006.
