Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
ITA Regional Main Draw
Last One Standing: Murray Wins ITA Midwest Regional Title
10/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 28, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Junior Samantha Murray (Altrincham, England/Altrincham Grammar) defeated Notre Dame's Kelcy Tefft in the finals of the ITA/Wilson Midwest Regional Tournament, marking the eighth straight year that a Wildcat has returned to Evanston with a regional singles crown. Murray dropped the first set but rallied to win, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, en route to becoming the seventh Northwestern player in history to win the event.
A year ago, Murray reached the finals of the Midwest Regional where she fell to teammate Georgia Rose.
Murray, tabbed as No. 30 in the ITA preseason rankings, overcame three representatives from Notre Dame as well as foes from DePaul, Wisconsin and Illinois on her six-win march through the tournament. Her finals opponent, Tefft, is ranked No. 43 by the ITA.
In her first two full years at Northwestern, Murray garnered All-Big Ten honors and qualified for the NCAA singles championships both years and has compiled an 80-23 overall record in singles play. As a sophomore, she went 20-6 in dual competition, all from the No. 3 singles position.
Past Wildcat champions at the event include Rose (2007), Alexis Prousis (2005, 2006), Audra Cohen (2004), Cristelle Grier (2002, 2003), Marine Piriou (2001) and Katherine Nasser (1999).
Murray was joined in the quarterfinals by freshman Elena Chernyakova (Moscow, Russia/No. 150), who fell to Notre Dame's Kristy Frilling.
Northwestern continues its fall slate this weekend, traveling to Palm Springs, Calif., to compete in the Desert Duals.
