Oct. 22, 2012
Midwest Regional Singles Championship Match 
Midwest Regional Doubles Final
URBANA, Ill. – University of Notre Dame women’s tennis junior Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) continued her magical run Monday at the United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional Championships at the Atkins Tennis Center.
After dropping a heartbreaking 8-6 decision with partner Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) to Melissa Kopinski and Rachael White (Illinois) in the doubles championship to start the day, her first loss this season, Sanders responded in kind, upsetting No. 9 Emina Bektas (Michigan) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the day’s first quarterfinal matchup.
It was the first singles win for Sanders, ranked No. 98 in the ITA rankings, against a top-10 opponent in her Notre Dame career.
The Fighting Irish standout and reigning BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Player of the Month was not finished, toppling No. 117 Belinda Niu of Northwestern 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets to reach the second singles championship final of her career. Sanders dropped a 6-3, 1-6, 1-6 decision to teammate Kristen Rafael in the blue division championship match at the 2010 Notre Dame Eck Tennis Classic.
Sanders will take on No. 12 Kate Turvy of Northwestern at 11 a.m. (ET) Tuesday for the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Singles Championship. The winner will clinch an automatic berth into the prestigious USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 8-11 at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Turvy advanced to the regional final with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of No. 82 Allison Falkin (Illinois) in her semifinal contest.
USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships-Doubles Final-Monday
Kopinski/White (ILL) def. No. 36 Sanders/Sabacinski (ND) 8-6
USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships-Singles Quarterfinal-Monday
No. 98 Britney Sanders (ND) def. No. 9 Emina Bektas (UM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships-Singles Semifinal-Monday
No. 98 Britney Sanders (ND) def. No. 117 Belinda Niu (NU) 6-3, 6-4
USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships-Singles Final-Tuesday
No. 98 Britney Sanders (ND) vs. No. 12 Kate Turvy (NU) – 11 a.m. (ET)
–ND–