Clayton State’s Semyrodenko, White capture
ITA Mid-Atlantic Regional doubles championship
Duo gives Lakers third straight regional championship in women’s doubles

SUMTER, S.C. – September 27-29, 2008 – For the third straight season, the Clayton State Laker women’s team has taken home the title of doubles champion at the ITA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships.

Over the last two seasons, former Division II All-Americans Julia Chergova and Anna Redecsi won the title. Over this past weekend, it was the team of Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Katie White who prevailed in dramatic fashion.

Seeded eighth in the Women’s A-Draw for doubles, the Laker duo fought its way through the bracket before stunning the top-seeded team of Alida Muller-Wehlau and Martina Beckmann 8-6 in the championship. The victory advances Semyrodenko and White to the ITA Small College National Championships in Mobile, Ala., on Oct. 16-19.

White and Semyrodenko opened with an 8-0 victory over the Wingate team of Hollyn Alberghini and Kara Stasikelis in the first round, followed by an 8-3 victory over Gabriela Celi and Christine Vanard from Lees-McRae.

Advancing to the quarterfinals, White and Semyrodenko pulled off the first of three straight upsets with an 8-5 victory over the third-seeded team of Roxana Dondera and Eva-Maria Petschniq from Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State. In the semifinals, the Laker duo knocked off seventh-seeded Valeska Ibscher and Tersza Sykorova from Francis Marion.

Squared off in the championship against the top-seeded team from defending NCAA Division II national champion Armstrong Atlantic, White and Semyrodenko jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, only to have Armstrong Atlantic come back and cut the deficit to 4-3. The Clayton State duo, however, never relinquished the lead and finally won the match on a winner down the line by White on the Lakers’ third match point attempt.

In addition to their doubles championship, Semyrodenko and White also both advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s A-Draw for singles, while Veronika Jasenovcova won the A-Draw consolation round for women’s singles with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Amanda Bartlett from Carson-Newman.

Jasenovcova advanced to the consolation championship with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Laker teammate Selma Hidass in the semifinals.