Sophomore Irina Falconi of the Georgia Tech won the singles title at the 25th annual Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades while Tennessee’s seventh-ranked team of Caitlin Whoriskey and Natalie Pluskota claimed the doubles title over a freshmen pair from Florida.

                 The eighth-seeded Falconi d efeated Georgia’s Chelsey Gullickson in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to capture her first individual national title. “It feels unbelievable to win this title,” Falconi said. “Winning is a great feeling no matter whether it is a a regular match or capturing a national title. I didn’t realize that I had won the title until the awards ceremony began.”
                 Whoriskey and Pluskota downed the Cinderella freshmen paring of Lauren Embree and Allie Will 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, in the championship final. Embree and Will began the tournament playing through the qualifying draw, winning three matches in two days to advance to the main draw, with three wins in three days before Sunday’s finale. They defeated six nationally-ranked teams, including No. 5, 11, 13, 18, 20 and 27 on their way to the finals.
                 The Gator freshmen defeated North Carol ina’s fourth-seeded and fifth-ranked team of Sophie Grabinski and Sanaz Marand, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, Saturday to reach the final.
                 Since 2007, the Georgia Tech women’s tennis team has earned six national titles including Falconi’s victory this weekend. The Yellow Jackets have won two ITA National Team Indoor Championships, the 2007 NCAA Championship, Amanda McDowell won the 2008 NCAA Singles title and McDowell and Falconi captured the 2008 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships doubles title.
                 The All-American Championships is the first of three major events of the season that attracts the nation’s top collegiate tennis players. The other national title opportunities this year are the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships (Nov. 5-8) in New Haven, Conn., and the season-ending NCAA Championships (May 26-31) in Athens, Ga.