November 9, 2009
BERKELEY - Jana Juricova captured her first singles
National Championship over the weekend as she became the first Golden Bear to win the ITA National Indoor Tennis Championship title, making the sophomore the Muscle Milk California Student-Athlete of the Week.
This is Juricova's second national title as she is the current defending NCAA doubles champion with junior Mari Andersson. No. 4-ranked Juricova navigated the field of 32 of the nation's top players with ease and didn't drop a set in five matches on her way to the title. The second-year Bear first took out No. 13 Reka Zsilinszka of Duke, 6-4, 6-1, before dismissing No. 25 Kristi Boxx of Mississippi, 7-5, 6-2, in the first two rounds of play. In the quarterfinal, Juricova beat No. 47 Pichittra Thongdach of Boise State, 6-3, 6-2, and earned the right to avenge an earlier loss to No. 58 Denise Dy of Washington. She turned the tables on Dy and fought for a tough 6-4, 6-1 win. In the championship match, Juricova recorded her third career victory over No. 8-ranked Irina Falconi of Georgia Tech, 6-4, 7-6, with a 7-4 score in the tiebreaker to bring home the ITA crown.
She now has a team-high 16 wins with 11 of those victories coming against ranked players.
Muscle Milk California Student-Athletes of the Week
2008-09 Winners
2007-08 Winners
2006-07 Winners
