Staloch and Iyer Advance to ITA Semifinals

Oct. 12 - (FT. MYERS, Fla.) - Carnegie Mellon University had two women’s tennis player’s advance to the semifinals at the ITA National Small College Championships at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL, Thursday, October 12. Senior Mona Iyer (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) and junior Amy Staloch (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow) were victorious in doubles, while Staloch won in singles. They will now compete in the National Semifinals Friday.

Staloch defeated Molly Fiala of Coe College 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. Staloch will face the #1 seed Elizabeth Bondi from DePauw University. The match is set for Friday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m.

In doubles play Iyer and Staloch, seeded second, defeated Jackie Shtemberg and Christina Contrafatto of the College of New Jersey 5-7, 7-6 (3), (12-10). Iyer and Staloch trailed 8-5 in the super tiebreaker before winning seven of the last nine points to take the match. The semifinals of the doubles action was suspended until Friday morning. Play will pick backup with the duo taking on Laura Fanjoy and Gabriela Carvalho from the University of the South.

With their victory in the quarterfinal round, Iyer and Staloch become All-Americans for the 2006-2007 season. This marks the third straight year that the due has received All-American honors.