Women's Tennis Sets New Standard
June 14, 2011 | Women's Tennis
June 14, 2011
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - The final Campbell's ITA Division I rankings placed the Boston College women's tennis team at No. 45, the highest-ever final ranking in program history. The Eagles also finished with a program-best No. 2 Northeast ranking, along with several individuals being recognized nationally and in the region.
"Today is a great day for BC women's tennis," Head Coach Nigel Bentely said. "Receiving the program's highest ranking doesn't happen without the hard work and dedication of the players and the people who support them. Coaching this team all year was an absolute pleasure. Not only did they elevate our program to a new level, they stood out academically and made significant contributions to our community. I'm really excited about what this season positions us to do in the fall and for years to come."
The Eagles put together a 9-14 campaign, the best since 2007-08, and won a program-high three Atlantic Coast Conference matches. BC was ranked as high as No. 33 during the year, but fell a few places in the rankings after a tough midseason ACC stretch.
Rising senior Katarina Gajic led the Eagles with final individual rankings of No. 123 nationally and No. 3 in the Northeast. Gajic went 12-9 in dual matches on courts three, four and five, while going 7-5 in tournament play during the fall. The season saw the Toronto, Ontario native executed the largest upset in BC tennis history when she defeated then-ranked No. 10 Reka Zsilinska of Duke, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0(11). Gajic also paired with Katharine Attwell to go 9-12 at doubles No. 3.
Alex Kelleher concluded the season ranked No. 11 in the region. Kelleher competed in all 23 dual matches at No. 1 singles, including 13 matches against nationally ranked players. The rising junior won a career-best four ACC doubles matches.
Erina Kikuchi made an impact at No. 2 singles in her first season at Boston College. The Bronx, N.Y. product went 8-8 in dual matches, scoring points for the Eagles in six matches against nationally ranked teams to be tabbed as the No. 14 player in the Northeast. Kikuchi and her doubles partner, first-year Veronica Corning, concluded the season as the 10th ranked tandem in the region.
BC also earned recognition in the fall. At the USTA Billy Jean King Women's College Invitational, Attwell won the Flight D title, Ina Kauppila took home the Flight H trophy and Olga Khmylev captured the Flight G championship. At the Big Green Invitational, Haley Dixon and Khmylev won both of their draws of the Big Green Invitational, going undefeated in singles and as a doubles pairing. Attwell paired with Kikuchi to go undefeated in at the Brown Invitational.
The Eagles graduate Attwell and Jacqueline Mabatah. Mabatah carried a 4.0 gpa throughout her collegiate career in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In addition to the rankings, the team expects to receive academic accolades from the ITA and ACC as they are unveiled throughout the summer.
