Oct. 17, 2009 - Women's Tennis
Kendra Higgins Places Second at ITA Singles Championship

MOBILE, Ala. -- University of Chicago sophomore women's tennis player Kendra Higgins (Vero Beach, Fla./ Vero Beach) finished as the runner-up in the singles competition at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Small College Championship.

After posting wins over the University of Rochester's Lia Weiner (6-3, 6-4) and Carnegie Mellon University's Laura Chen (4-6, 7-6, 6-3) in the first two rounds, Higgins dropped a 7-6, 6-4 decision to Chapman University's Elizabeth Lewis in the championship match.

In doubles competition, Higgins and junior Chrissy Hu (Palo Alto, Calif./ Palo Alto) -- who entered the event as the top seed -- dropped two of three matches to finish seventh.

Following the event, Higgins received the James O'Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award presented by Rolex Watch USA. The award recognizes players who display outstanding sportsmanship and exemplify the spirit of college tennis during the course of the ITA National Small College Championships.

"Everyone here is the best of the best, and obviously we wanted to come out and win but I think we just came out a little flat," said Higgins. "Until the regionals, we haven't really played together since the NCAAs and with the added expectations, it put a little pressure on us. It was a great learning experience for us to find out what we need to accomplish to defend our title at the NCAA's."