DeLone Reaches Semifinals At ITCA Individual Tourney

The Harvard women's tennis team is hoping to spring forward next year from its fall.

Three members of the Crimson ended their fall season on a high note at the ITCA Region One Individual Championships in Philadelphia this past weekend.

In a huge upset, Harvard's top singles player, junior Amy deLone, eliminated the tournament's top seed, Jennifer Lane, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, in the third round. She went on to reach the semifinals, where she fell to Danielle Durak, William & Mary's top singles player.

"It was uplifting for all of us to see Amy do so well," sophomore Kim Cooper said. "She's been working so hard all season, and she's lost some really close matches. It was great that she came through in such a big tournament."

Two Weeks Hence

DeLone had defeated Durak just two weeks ago at the ITCA Region One Team Championships in Princeton.

Durak defeated Virginia's Karen Gallego in the finals to capture the singles championships. Gallego had defeated Cooper in the second round, 6-2, 6-4.

Harvard's only other entrant in the singles draw, sophomore Jen Minkus, lost in the first round to Princeton's top player, Diana Gardner, 6-1, 6-3.

The sixth-seeded team of Cooper and deLone reached the quarterfinals of the doubles competition, where they lost to the number-two seeds, Penn State's Kelly Ervin and Claudia Karebedian, 6-3, 6-2.

Harvard's other doubles team could not play because of an injury to freshman Erika Elmuts, Minkus' doubles partner.

"We had a great fall season as far as doubles go," Cooper said. "We were well-matched, and I think the match experience will be invaluable. We were pretty pleased with our overall performance this year."

'Tis Spring

This is the last tournament of the fall season, and the Crimson will go on hiatus until their spring season opener against Wake Forest.