LIONS SET FOR NATIONAL TEAM TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The York University Lions tennis team will compete for national supremacy this week (Aug. 12-14) at the 2010 University and College National Team Championships.
The Lions were selected to participate after winning the OUA men’s title last October, and the women’s champion Montreal Carabins will also be in attendance. Rounding out the field of four are Simon Fraser and Alberta, who each qualified at a Western regional playdown earlier this year.
To watch Saturday’s matches live, click here.
This week’s event is a combination tournament featuring players from the men’s and women’s teams at each institution. Each head-to-head contest between two teams will include three men’s singles, three women’s singles, two men’s doubles, two women’s doubles and one mixed doubles match.
Lions taking part in the event include OUA all-stars Mikhail Lew (Caracas, Venezuela), Tomo Ono (Toronto) and Stephanie Willerding (Toronto). Also on the team are Maria Gironda (Toronto), Kia Khadeem (Toronto), Julia Khalilova (Etobicoke, Ont.), Matt Kuzdub (Peterborough, Ont.), Ahmed Shebl (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Jason Xue (Toronto) and Jessica Yep.
The national championships will begin with two days of play at the Old Tennis Canada courts on York University’s Keele campus. The final day of action will take place at Rexall Centre, where the student-athletes will gather alongside the stars of the ATP World Tour at Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
In conjunction with the event, athletic directors from universities across Ontario gathered in Toronto on Monday (Aug. 9) to discuss growing the game, increasing facilities on campuses across the country and potential CIS status. A similar meeting will be held in Montreal during next week’s Coupe Rogers presented by National Bank
Tennis Canada is committed to long-term athlete development and hopes that more kids will take up the sport or continue playing through their teens and into University. To increase the level of collegiate competition, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) has focused on growing and promoting the sport of tennis.
“University tennis in our country is of great caliber and we are thrilled to showcase their talents here at Rogers Cup present by National Bank,” said Hatem McDadi, vice-president, tennis development, Tennis Canada.
With files from Tennis Canada
