Sufi Wins Again Before Falling in Semifinals

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's Hala Sufi pulled off her third straight upset but ran out of magic in the semifinals Sunday at the ITA Southeast Championships in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Sufi won her third straight over a ranked opponent Sunday morning, defeating Clemson's 45th-ranked Carolina Salge in the quarterfinals, 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3. But the magical run ended Sunday afternoon with a 4-6, 3-6, defeat to Tennessee's Blakeley Griffith in the semifinals.

"Hala played very well throughout the tournament and really fought to get back in the match against Salge," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "But Griffith was just too much. The loss does not diminish the great effort she displayed in her four victories."

The ITA Southeast Championships serve as the qualifying event for the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships set for November 2-5 in Columbus, Ohio.

Full results from the tournament may be found at http://www.tennisinformation.com/tourny/5/1/7/0/7/7/0/default.asp.

ITA SOUTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Main Draw Singles - Quarterfinals
Hala Sufi (MT) def. (45) Carolina Salge (Clemson), 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3

Main Draw Singles - Semifinals
Blakeley Griffith (Tennessee) def. Hala Sufi (MT), 6-4, 6-3

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