Zhang and Elder-Bush Compete in ITA Regional
Oct 24 | Women's Tennis
NORFOLK, Va. - Senior Katrina Elder-Bush (Boston, Mass.) and freshman Amy Zhang (Plano, Texas) both qualified for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) regional tournament held in Norfolk, Va. It was the first time in school history that two players from Rutgers competed in the 96-person main draw.
Zhang entered the tournament in the qualifying draw where she quickly advanced after topping a player from Quinnipiac 6-2, 6-2. She then defeated Mary Beth Winninghan from Dartmouth 6-2, 6-4 to qualify for the main draw. Once there she steamed past Jackie Herb, also of Quinnipiac, 6-2, 6-3. Zhang's run in the main draw finally came to an end as she fell to the No. 12 seeded Inga Beermann of Virginia Tech 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round.
"To come into the tournament as a freshman and win three matches is a great accomplishment," said head coach Ben Bucca. "This really paints a bright picture for her future."
Elder-Bush played a thrilling two and a half hour match where she fell to Catherine Kellmer of Fordham 6-4, 7-6 (5). Zhang and Elder-Bush also teamed up for a doubles match in which they fell 8-4 to Bianca Aboubakare and Marisa Schonfeld of Brown.
"This tournament really showed the progress of our program being that we had two players in the main draw of the tournament," said Bucca. "The ITA and all of the fall tournaments have given the girls a great deal of confidence. I know they are focused and determined to make this a great spring season as well."
Sixty schools on the east coast from Virginia to Maine competed in the three day tournament which is the largest regional ITA tournament in the country.
