AASU's Novakova Captures Southeast Singles Title

SUMTER, S.C. - Armstrong Atlantic State freshmen Sona Novakova captured the ITA Southeast Regional singles title at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.

Novakova will now advance to the advance to the 2008 ITA National Small College Championships in Mobile, Ala., on October 16-19. Head coach Simon Earnshaw has coached the region champion in singles now in consecutive seasons as Novakova joins Johanna Dahlback (2007) as a champion for the Pirates.

A freshman from Slapanice in the Czech Republic, Novakova advanced to the singles final with a win over a teammate as she defeated No. 4 seed Gabriella Kovacs, 6-1, 6-3. A 9-16 seed in the draw, Novakova then knocked off No. 3 seed Eva Petschnig of Columbus State, 7-5, 7-5, to join Bonet in Mobile.

The Pirates did not fare so well in doubles play as the women's top-seeded duo of Alida Muller-Wehlau and Martina Beckmann defeated teammates Kathleen Henry and Alisa Kagukina, 8-2, to advance to the final, but the pair lost to 5-8 seed Semyrodenko and White of Clayton State, 8-6.

Novakova will have a chance to represent the Pirates in the ITA Super Bowl of Small College Tennis if they can capture the DII singles championships in Mobile. AASU has had two Super Bowl champions in school history: Zsofia Golopencza in 2003 and Johanna Dahlback last season, in 2007.