April 15, 2009

The George Mason Women's tennis team will travel to Norfolk, Va. this weekend to compete in the CAA Championships. The Patriots hold the 11th seed heading into the championships and will face off against the sixth-seeded Delaware the first round on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

The Patriots finished the season with a 8-11 record, 0-6 in the CAA. Mason lost to Delaware just less than a week ago, 7-0, but prior to that match had won two straight by 7-0 margins. The Blue Hens won all six singles matches in straight sets and all three doubles matches to shut out the Patriots on April 10.

Three sophomores have headlined Mason's top six most of the season, complemented by two seniors and one freshman. Sophomore Lindsay Gray, Mason's No.1 player, heads into the CAA Championships with a 10-11 overall record, going just less than .500 at 8-9 in spring dual matches. Freshman Brooke Blackwell, the Patriots No. 2 competitor for the majority of the season, holds a 14-11 record going into Thursday's match with Delaware. Dieffenbach, the Netters middle singles player, ended her second season with a 8-13 record. Sophomore Aryn Christman, held down the No. 5 and 6 position most of the season and finished above .500 with a 10-9 overall record. Seniors Meredith Cutchin went 11-8 overall and Alicia Van Zandt played to a 7-7 record this season.

The winner of the match will face off against third-seeded #51William and Mary at 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The tournament will end on Sunday as the championship match begins at 10 a.m.