Nov. 6, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Notre Dame senior co-captain Alicia Salas (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.), ranked 63rd nationally in singles, fell 6-3, 6-3 to #8 Alexis Gordon of Florida Thursday afternoon in the UM Varsity Tennis Center in the opening round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, the second leg of the collegiate grand slam. Following her loss to the tournament’s No. 4 seed, Salas will compete in consolation action beginning Friday.
The match marked the second time this fall that Gordon topped Salas, with the Gator also prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the “adi” flight in September’s adidas Invitational.
Salas is 11-5 this fall, with her defeats coming against the Nos. 4, 7, 8, 8, and 27 in the nation. She has eight victories against ranked foes.
She is the first Irish player to gain entrance to the National Indoor Championships in three seasons. Current Notre Dame assistant coach Michelle Dasso reached the semifinals of the event in 2000-01, when the tournament was contested in February.
The All-American Championships, the National Indoors, and the year-end NCAA Championships are college tennis’ three national championship events during the season. From 1986 until 2001, there were four national events, but the ITA National Clay Court Championships is no longer played. The National Indoor Championships date back to 1978 and were played in February of each season until 2001-02.
The National Indoor Championships is the most selective individual tournament in college tennis, extending invitations only to 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams. The singles tournament consists of the finalists from each of the last month’s eight ITA Regional Championships, as well as the defending event champion, the winner of last month’s All-American Championships, the winner of the National Small College Championships, 12 at-large entrants, and one wild card from the host school. RadioTennis.com plans to broadcast the weekend semifinals and finals.
ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
Singles
[4] #8 Alexis Gordon (Florida) d. #63 Alicia Salas (Notre Dame) 6-3, 6-3
Note: Tournament seeding in brackets followed by national ranking.