Monday, 10/08/2012

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Khunpak Issara and Lorraine Guillermo of the Pepperdine women’s tennis team capped their incredible run at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships with a dominating win in the finals of the doubles consolation draw.

Although the word “consolation” is in front of the duos’ championship title, Issara (Bangkok, Thailand/Bangkok Patana School) and Guillermo (Walnut, Calif./Rowland HS) had to battle against four ranked opponents to earn it.

Issara and Guillermo, ranked #7 in the ITA preseason doubles poll, first knocked off #31 Tiffany Welcher and Alyssa Hibberd of Memphis by a narrow margin, 8-6.

The Wave tandem could not be touched the remainder of the tournament, as Issara and Guillermo allowed just seven total games through three matches.

After defeating two top-10 doubles teams in the quarter and semifinals, Issara and Guillermo met with Danielle Collins and Lauren Embree – ranked #15 – of reigning NCAA team champion Florida.

A hot start by Issara and Guillermo was too much for the Gators to overcome, and the Waves rolled to the 8-3 victory to take the consolation title.

With the win, Issara and Guillermo have earned a spot at the USTA/ITA Nation Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, held at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., next month.

Riviera/ITA All-American Championship
Oct. 7, 2012 at Riviera Tennis Club (Pacific Palisades, Calif.)
Round of 16: #7 Guillermo/Issara (PEP) def. #31 Tiffany Welcher/Alyssa Hibberd (Memphis) 8-6
Quarterfinals: #7 Guillermo/Issara (PEP) def. #9 Stacey Tan/Ellen Tsay (Stanford) 8-2
Semifinals: #7 Guillermo/Issara (PEP) def. #3 Annie Goransson/Anett Schutting (California) 8-2
Finals: #7 Guillermo/Issara (PEP) def. #15 Danielle Collins/Lauren Embree (Florida) 8-3