Women’s tennis players bow out in first round of All-American championships

Women’s tennis coach Brian Kalbas believed it was an “honor in and of itself” for North Carolina to have two players get an automatic berth in the singles main draw of the 2008 Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships.

He also knew the level of competition his players faced heading into Pacific Palisades, Calif., just a few weeks into the season.

“This is a premiere tournament, and every top player in the nation plays in it,” Kalbas said. “It was difficult to get some competition and practice beforehand.”

Ranked 10th in the nation going into the Riviera Tennis Club, Sanaz Marand fell in the first round in straight sets to Northwestern’s Georgia Rose, 6-1, 6-2.

Katrina Tsang took California’s Claire Ilcinkas to three sets before losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Both Marand and Tsang bowed out in the first round of the consolation bracket to opponents from Fresno State.

“Both players need a few more matches this fall to get their confidence in shape against the best players in the nation,” Kalbas said of his top two players, who had not played against nationally ranked competition since July.

“They’re going to take this in a positive way and see what they need to work on.”

The Tar Heels now turn their attention to Winston-Salem, where the ITA Southeast Regional Championship and qualifications for the national indoor championships will be held at Wake Forest University on Oct. 22-27.



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