Columbia University Team Page

NEW YORK - The Columbia women's tennis team will be represented by six singles players and three doubles duos at the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships Oct. 19-23. Army will serve as the host of this year's tournament.

Five Columbia players: Nicole Bartnik, Crystal Leung, Bianca Sanon, Lauren Stratman and Kanika Vaidya will begin action in the main singles draw. Iani Alecsiu is scheduled to open competition in the qualifying draw, but as the first alternate for the main draw she could be moved into the top bracket when draws are released Thursday night.

In doubles action, Tiana Takenaga will take the court with Sanon. Columbia's other two doubles pairs are Leung/Bartnik and Stratman/Vaidya.

The Lions last competed at the USTA NTC BJK Women's College Invitational in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Oct. 6-8. Vaidya, Sanon, Leung and Amy Li each won three matches at the tournament and reached the finals of their respective draws.

While her teammates were on the East Coast, Bartnik was competing in Pacific Palisades, Calif. at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships. Bartnik won her opening round match of the prestigious main draw over No. 15 Natalie Beazant from Rice and went on to force three sets against No. 4 Zoe Scandalis from USC before falling, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.