Novaceanu's ITA Run Ends With Quarterfinals Loss

Andreea Novaceanu

HANOVER, NH – The dream run at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s regional tournament ended in disappointment for the University at Buffalo’s Andreea Novaceanu (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) on Monday.

The UB junior was defeated by Princeton’s Melissa Saiontz, the tournament's seventh seed, 6-0, 7-5, in the quarterfinal round of the regional tournament. It was the farthest that any UB tennis player, men’s or women’s had advanced in the prestigious tournament. Novaceanu did not advance past the second round in either of her two previous tournament appearances.

She was one of two unseeded players to reach the quarterfinal round. In her run through the tournament, she defeated Kim Weltman of Albany, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round and ninth-seeded Lynzee Kever of Marshall, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the third round. Novaceanu earned a first-round bye from the round of 128.

The ITA held nine regional tournaments this weekend throughout the country. Each regional champion earns a trip to the ITA National Championships in Columbus, OH next month.