McKenna rallies to take Thunderbird Singles Championship
<p>Avenging her second-place finish in last season's tournament, senior Kelcy McKenna took home the singles championship at the 2010 ASU Thunderbird Invitational. McKenna, who previously won the Cal Nike Invitational singles championship in late September, defeated Belinda Niu of Northwestern, 7-5, 6-2.</p><separator></separator><p>Battling back from 2-4 at one point in the first set to Niu, McKenna kicked it into gear, overtaking the Wildcat and cruised on to the win in the second set.</p><separator></separator><p>"I got off to a rough start, and Belinda [Niu] played really well," said McKenna. "I think overall it was a good match from both sides, and I was excited to pull off a win."</p><separator></separator><p>The fact that McKenna has won two tournaments is even more impressive noting that the senior has divided her time between school, student teaching and practicing tennis.</p><separator></separator><p>"I'm really excited I got to play a lot of matches with this tournament since I've been student teaching throughout the fall," said McKenna. "I have only been able to play in one other tournament and we did really well this whole tournament."</p><separator></separator><p>In double play, sophomore Hannah James and Michelle Brycki cruised defeating the doubles tandem from Ohio State of Kelsey Haviland and Gabby Steele, 8-4. Also winning their doubles match, Ashlee Brown and Sianna Simmons battled the Michigan duo of Michelle Sulahain and Kari Wig, taking the match 9-7.</p><separator></separator><p>In consolation play, the Sun Devils dropped their matches. In the first round consolations bracket, Simmons fell to Haviland, 6-3, 6-0. Both playing in the second-round consolation round, both James and Brycki were defeated by Northwestern's Kate Turvy and Michigan's Brooke Bolender, respectively. Finally, after clinching the first set 6-1, All-American Micaela Hein was defeated by Rika Tatsuno of Michigan, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.</p><separator></separator><p>Full results are available on the Thunderbird Tournament Page.</p><separator></separator><p>The ASU Thunderbird Invitational concludes the fall slate for the ASU tennis team. The Sun Devils resume competition at the Freeman Memorial Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 14-16, 2011.</p>