Some of the best NCAA Division I players from local schools will join big names like 2010 U.S. Open standout Beatrice Capra, 2010 NCAA Champion Chelsey Gullickson and 2011 ITA All-American Champion Mitchell Frank this week at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, which will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Indoor Building
The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships features a 32-player singles field and 20-team doubles field for men and women, including: champions from the 24 Division I USTA/ITA Regional Championships, the USTA/ITA National Small College champion, the eight quarterfinalists of the ITA Men’s All-American Championships and ITA/Riviera All-American Championships for women, and at-large and wild card selections made by the ITA and USTA. Additionally, Columbia University, which is serving as the host school for the second consecutive year, will receive a wild card entry into each draw. In total, 126 players from 54 schools will compete in New York in singles or doubles.
The SoCal contingent is led by Nicole Gibbs of Santa Monica, a two-time USTA Girls’ 18s National runner-up from Stanford University. On the men’s side, 2008 USTA Boys’ 18s National runner-up Ryan Thacher of Studio City and Stanford University will compete.
"We are excited to once again partner with the ITA in hosting this event that features some of the country’s top collegiate tennis players," said Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development. "That the event is held at the home of the US Open provides a unique opportunity for these players to compete on a world-class stage."
Other players in the men’s field include: 2009 USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion Chase Buchanan of the Ohio State University and 2008 USTA Boys’ 18s National Clay Court Champion Evan King of the University of Michigan.
In addition to Gullickson and Capra, other participants in the women’s field include: reigning NCAA Champion Jana Juricova of the University of Cal-Berkeley and Lauren Embree of the University of Florida, who won the clinching match for the Gators at the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Local Men Competing:
- Sebastian Fanselow, Pepperdine (JR, Germany)
- Finn Tearney, Pepperdine (JR, New Zealand)
- Ryan Thacher, Stanford (SR, Studio City, Calif.)
- Daniel Nguyen, USC (SR, Oxnard, Calif.)
- Ray Sarmiento, USC (SO, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
- Kyle McMorrow, Washington (JR, Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
Local Women Competing:
- Nicole Gibbs, Stanford (SO, Santa Monica, Calif.)
- Robin Anderson, UCLA (FR, Matawan, N.J.)
- Danielle Lao, USC (JR, Arcadia, Calif.)
- Sabrina Santamaria, USC (FR, Los Angeles)
- Zoe Scandalis, USC (FR, San Diego)
The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships was inaugurated in 1978 for the men and 1984 for the women. Past champions and finalists include James Blake (Harvard), Bob and Mike Bryan (Stanford), John Isner (Georgia), Lisa Raymond (Florida), Laura Granville (Stanford), Michael Russell (Miami), Paul Annacone (Tennessee), Brad Gilbert (Pepperdine), Todd Martin (Northwestern) and MaliVai Washington (Michigan).