Duo to Play in Singles, Doubles Championships

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. --- The top two players from Washington and Lee University women’s tennis will be pulling double duty over the weekend at the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Singles and Doubles Championships.  Senior Lauren Caire and sophomore Ellen Yeatman will be competing in both brackets at the three-day event hosted by the University of Mary Washington.

Caire and Yeatman are among the 32 individuals selected to participate in the singles competition.  The pair is also among the 16 teams that were picked to play for the doubles championship.  Play in both brackets begins on Friday, May 28.

Caire has logged a 6-5 singles record, while Yeatman has notched a 12-4 record in singles action.  Together, they are 7-3 overall in doubles entering this weekend's team tournament.  Caire reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship in singles and doubles during her sophomore season, and she is a three-time All-American.  Yeatman will be making her second appearance in the singles championship after falling in the first round last spring.

Both players have earned major awards in 2010.  Caire earned the ODAC Player of the Year award as well as the ITA Atlantic South Region Player of the Year honor.  Yeatman not only earned the ITA Atlantic South Region Player to Watch accolade, but she was also tabbed the ITA National Player to Watch.  Generals’ head coach Eric Ishida was named the ITA Atlantic South Region Coach of the Year.

In singles action, Caire is situated on the opposite side of the bracket from Yeatman.  Caire will match up with Pomona-Pitzer College’s Kara Wang.  The Sagehen’s freshman is currently ranked fifth in the ITA West Region rankings.  Caire is #3 in the Atlantic South Region.  Yeatman, ranked eighth in the Atlantic South Region, opens competition with Brittany Berckes from Amherst College.  The Lord Jeffs’ senior is slotted #4 in the Northeast Region.

Caire and Yeatman are the second-ranked doubles pair in the Atlantic South Region, and they have the distinction of opening this bracket against the top-seeded team in the field.  Julie Browne and Megan McCooey from Tufts University are ranked fourth in the Northeast Region rankings.

For a look at the complete NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship singles bracket, click HERE, and for the doubles bracket, click HERE.  For more information on the tournament, go to the NCAA championship website at www.ncaa.com.