Preston, Taylor Win USTA/ITA National Hard Courts

Preston, Taylor Win USTA/ITA National Hard Courts

7/26/2005

Of the 64 men and 64 women who gathered in Columbus, Ohio for a USTA event July 16-20, it was two Commodores who were left standing. Sophomores Ryan Preston (Northbrook, Ill.) and Amanda Taylor (Richland, Wash.) each won the Midwest regional of the National Hard Courts Championships of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Collegiate Summer Circuit, presented by the USTA.

Rising sophomore Amanda Taylor (Richland, Wash.) outlasted 63 others to take the title in the Midwest Regional of the USTA/ITA National Hard Courts Championship, part of the summer ITA’s Collegiate Summer Circuit. The event, which saw Vanderbilt junior Amanda Fish place second last year, was held at the Ohio State University tennis courts in Columbus, Ohio.

Taylor, who was seeded No. 1 in the tournament, impressed Tournament Director Harvey Beahm, who said that she completely dominated the field — including in the finals when she defeated the No. 3 seed, UCLA sophomore Elizabeth Lumpkin, 6-2, 6-1.

Taylor began her play against Becky Jenkins, a high school senior, and walked away with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. After that Taylor went on autopilot winning her next three matches losing only six games total (d. Lindsey Berry 6-0, 6-1; d. No. 16 Kate Turvy 6- 1, 6-1; d. No. 9 Brianna Knue 6-2, 6-1).

In the semifinals Taylor faced No. 4 seed Alison Silverio, a junior at Georgia Tech. Silverio took the first set 6-3, but the Commodore was able to recover taking the second 6-2. In lieu of a third set, the tournament format dictated a match tie-breaker, which Taylor won 10-7 before going on to defeat Lumpkin.

During her freshmen season at Vanderbilt Taylor compiled a 19-5 singles record, including 9-2 in SEC play, mostly in the No. 4 position.

The ITA National Summer Championships will be held July 30-Aug. 2 at the Indiana University Outdoor Varsity Courts in Bloomington, Ind.