Oct. 17, 2010
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV freshman Lucia Batta upset top-seeded and 67th-ranked Anastasia Putilina of Utah to win the singles title at the 2010 USTA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Mountain Region Championships at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Sunday.
Batta saw her 4-1 first-set lead evaporate as Putlina rallied. However, the sensational rookie then won the final two sets with ease in the 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 final. Batta improved to a stunning 13-1 in her first semester on campus and brought UNLV only its second-ever ITA regional championship. Former All-American Elena Gantcheva was the co-champion of the singles draw back in 2007 in San Diego. The final that season was called off because of wild fires raging in the area.
Putilina did not go home empty-handed, however, as she and teammate Paige Miles won the doubles title earlier in the day with a quick 8-3 victory over UNLV's Jana Albers and Adrienn Hidvegi.
This 114-player event was one of 24 USTA/ITA Regional Championships for NCAA Division I men and women taking place over these last two weekends of October at campuses throughout the country.
Batta and the Utah duo will now advance to play in the 2010 USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, taking place November 4-7, at the new indoor facilities at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
"Overall, we had a great week and I think UNLV lived up to its No. 1 ranking in the region," said UNLV head coach Kevin Cory. "I am excited about how well we played in doubles and having three of the final four teams alive is very rare. Lucia winning the singles title was not only a big accomplishment but it also earns her the opportunity to move on and compete against some of the best players in college tennis."
ITA MOUNTAIN REGION WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPSMAIN DRAWSINGLES FINAL (SUN., OCT. 17)Lucia Batta (2) (UNLV) def. #67 Anastasia Putilina (1) (UU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES FINAL (SUN., OCT. 17)Anastasia Putilina/Paige Miles (2) (UU) def. Jana Albers/Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) 8-3
