Over the weekend, sophomore Christina Contrafatto participated in the 2005 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Nationals. In the eight-player tournament Contrafatto placed seventh, making her No. 7 in the country in Division III for the fall season.
Contrafatto defeated Jamie Gaard of Gustavus Adolphus College 6-2, 7-6 in her third round of play to take the seventh, spot in the tournament.
"I didn't play so well in the first two rounds but I am happy that I could bring home a win," Contrafatto said.
"We were happy she was able to win regionals and get the experience in nationals," head coach Scott Dicheck said. "As the tournament progressed, she got more comfortable and was able to get a nice win over the talented player from Gustavus."
The ITA All-American started off the tournament against Serena Bukard of Emory University and fell 6-0, 6-1. Bukard went on to capture the No. 2 spot in the tournament and country.
In the second round, Washington and Lee University's Emily Applegate took the match from Contrafatto with a 6-3, 6-0 score. Applegate went on to place sixth in the tournament.
"Christina is talented enough to win this tournament, but as you get to this level, there are a lot of good players so you just try working toward the spring," Dicheck said. "She will see good competition in the No. 1 spot and we are just looking for the team to get better and feed off of her success so we can get to nationals as well."
Contrafatto ended the fall season with a 15-2 singles record. She went undefeated in the regular season and was also crowned the 2005 ITA Northeast Singles Champion to get into the ITA Nationals Tournament.
"It is always iffy how you will do in the tournament because there are so many good girls out there," Contrafatto said. "(Gaard) was really good, but she just ran out of gas. So many great freshmen come in each year and take out all the singles players so it is hard to say who will win it each year."
As a 2004 NJAC Women's Tennis Player and Rookie of the Year and now as an All-American, Contrafatto is excited to see what she can offer for the next two-and-a-half years left on her collegiate career.
"I expect to get better and to be more confident when I play," Contrafatto said. "The confidence I got from this will help me win the matches I know I should win."
The 2005 NJAC All-Conference Team will be announced on Nov. 7, which should include Contrafatto and a number of Lions. Play will resume again in February as the Lions hope to dominate another season of tennis.
