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North Alabama’s Yulia Zelenskaya makes a return during a doubles match with Tuskegee University Thursday at the VSU tennis courts.

Published May 09, 2008 01:49 am - The courts are hot at Valdosta State as the South Regional Tournament concludes today. Both the VSU men’s and women’s tennis teams are in the region championship this morning.

Blazing Through
VSU men’s, women’s tennis teams in region championship

By Chris Walsh
The Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — The courts are hot at Valdosta State as the South Regional Tournament concludes today. Both the VSU men’s and women’s tennis teams are in the region championship this morning.

The VSU women’s team will face North Alabama at 9 a.m. and the VSU men’s team will face Delta State at 11:30 a.m.

“We played both of those teams in the conference tournament, so we should do well,” said VSU head coach and Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year, John Hansen.

“But they are both good teams. It’s going to be a dog fight.”

The men’s region championship pits the No.1 seed, Valdosta State (13-5) against the No. 5 seed, Delta State (11-5). The Statesmen defeated North Alabama 5-2 on Thursday.

The Blazers are the No. 2 team in the country, behind Armstrong Atlantic State.

“As usual, we’ll probably have trouble in doubles, but our No. 1 mens is pretty good,” said Coach Hansen. “At four, five and six we have freshmen so it will be a question mark for us.”

Ekkenga, Jelinek, Florian Halb, Richard Malobicky and Michael Keuch will be looking to give VSU a shot at another National Championship.

The women’s region championship match is between the No. 1 seed, Valdosta State (14-5), and the No. 4 seed, North Alabama (10-5). The Lady Lions defeated Tuskegee 5-0 on Thursday.

North Alabama is led by one of the best players in D-2, Pippa Reakes, and she’s only a freshman. Last time the teams met she was only on the No. 1 doubles team. Now, she is also the No. 1 singles player.

All-Gulf South Conference first teamers Raphaelle Durante and Dominique Rothleander lead the way for the No. 4 ranked team in the country, VSU.

All-GSC second teamer Natali Gumbrecht and GSC Freshman of the Year Tina Trautman will also look to bring back the region championship for the Lady Blazers.

“For the girls, it will be a very good match-up,” said Coach Hansen.

With wins today, the Valdosta State men’s and women’s teams will travel to Houston, Texas on Monday to compete for the National Championship. The tournament will start Wednesday with the top 16 teams in the nation in attendance.