University of Tennessee Athletics
UT'S ENCINA AND MAHARAJ INVITED TO NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 07, 2004 | Women's Tennis
May 7, 2004
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
University of Tennessee senior Tammy Encina and sophomore Sabita Maharaj have been selected to compete in the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championships, beginning Mon., May 24 in Athens, Ga. Maharaj will be making her first appearance in the tournament, which consists of 64 players, while Encina will be competing for the second year in a row, having earned All-America honors with a trip to the round of 16 last season.
Encina, who has been hindered by injury throughout the year, looks to be returning to form late in the season. After compiling a 26-15 singles record as a junior, Encina has managed an 18-19 mark this season and a current national ranking of No. 37. The Miami Beach, Fla., native got off to a strong start in the fall, defeating five ranked opponents and climbing to as high as 13th in the ITA singles rankings. Once the injury bug hit, however, Encina underwent a stretch during which she lost seven of eight contests and was forced to sit out three of UT's matches in February. Recently, Encina appears to be hitting her stride, though, as she has defeated No. 6 Agata Cioroch of Georgia and No. 50 Jessica Ferguson of LSU in her last two matches.
Maharaj, meanwhile, has compiled an overall singles record of 26-12 en route to collecting first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors and a current ranking of No. 55. The Gainesville, Fla., native has been especially outstanding at the No. 2 singles position this season with a 13-5 overall record and a flawless 8-0 mark in SEC play. Her r?sum? also consists of five victories against ranked opponents, including a win over No. 23 Shadisha Robinson of Georgia in UT's final regular-season match. The All-SEC accolade was the second such award for Maharaj, who also earned first-team honors in doubles last season with partner Crystal Cleveland.
Draws and seedings for the individual NCAA Championships will take place on Sun., May 16, following the conclusion of the first and second rounds of the team tournament. The 24th-ranked Lady Vols will battle 50th-ranked Wisconsin in the first round on Fri., May 14 in Chapel Hill, N.C. If they win that match, the Orange and White will then take on either No. 15 North Carolina or No. 75 Winthrop in the second round on Sat., May 15.
