Oct. 5, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Astra Sharma of the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team begins her tournament journey Thursday, Oct. 6th in the main draw of the 2016 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
The first national championship of the 2016-17 season, 64 of the best collegiate women’s tennis players will compete in Pacific Palisades, Calif. with a champion declared on Oct. 9th.
“We’re all excited for Astra to have the opportunity to travel to Los Angels to play in the Riviera All-American Championships, which is the most prestigious tournament in collegiate tennis,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “Astra has worked very hard and put in a really good summer of playing professional events to prepare herself for this top flight event.”
Sharma kicks off the round of 64 at 3:30 pm CT, competing against last season’s runner up, Miami’s Sinead Lohan. The redshirt-junior Commodore begins the season ranked 19th in the nation. Lohan, a junior from Waterford, Ireland is the fourth seed in the tournament and is ranked No. 5 in the country.
Sharma and Lohan have played once before, with the Hurricane taking a three set thriller during the 2015 Miami Invitational, 7-5, 2-6, 1-0(6).
“This tournament is much more a case of focusing on the process of getting better and gaining experience rather than being results oriented. One thing you know about Astra is that she’s going to give 100 percent, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. We believe in her, and whatever happens we know she’s going to represent Vanderbilt impeccably.”