Tennis Competes at Thomasville Collegiate Invitational 2007

Florian Halb wins men's singles competition

Thomasville, GA. - The Valdosta State men's and women's tennis teams competed in the Thomasville Collegiate Invitational last weekend, with Florian Halb winning the men's singles and Joerg Ekkenga winning the men's singles consolation bracket.

Halb defeated Matthew Holland from ABAC in the first round (6-2, 6-4) and then defeated Jason Hood from Florida State in the quarterfinals (6-0, 6-1). In the semifinals, he beat Clifford Malivert from FAMU (6-1, 6-0) and went on to defeat the #1 seed, Daniel Plasa from Auburn Montgomery (2-6, 6-4, 10-8) to win the men's singles competition.

Ekkenga lost in the first round to Robert Hodel but won the rest of his matches against Anze Cevka from Georgia State (6-3, 6-3) and Holland from ABAC (6-2, 6-1) to win the men's singles consolation bracket.

In men's doubles, Ekkenga and Leos Jelinek defeeated the #1 seed team from Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals. Advancing to the semifinals, they beat a team from Florida State (9-8) and then defeated the pair from West Florida (8-3) to win the men's doubles competition.

On the women's side, Raphaelle Durante won in the first round against Sarah Brinkley from FAMU (6-2, 6-0) and then defeated Monika Lalewicz 6-1, 6-1. Durante was defeated by Dariana Kozmina from Georgia Southern in the semifinals, 7-5, 6-4.

Dominique Rothlaender lost in the first round to the #1 seed, Kozmina, and made it to the finals of the consolation bracket before retiring due to a pulled muscle.

Anne Corten won her first match against Rachel Malina (6-1, 6-3), but fell to Nitkova rom Georgia Southern (6-0, 6-0). In the consolation bracket, Corten lost to Laleqicz in the finals (6-1, 6-1).

In doubles play, Durante and Karine Redon were victorious in the first round, defeating a team from Arkansas-Monticello (8-3) before beating the doubles team from Georgia Southern (8-2). The pair lost in the finals to the #1 seed from GSU, 8-4.

Corten and Rothlaender were defeated in the first round, but made it to the finals of the consolation round, where they were to take on the team they defeated in the first round. Both pairs retired due to injury.

The Blazers and Lady Blazers will continue play this weekend at the ITA South Regional. The winners of the regional will continue to the national tournament.

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