Cecil Earns All-America Honor; Advances to Quarterfinals at NCAA Championships

(KALAMAZOO, Mich.) - Carnegie Mellon University junior Katie Cecil (Huntington Beach, Calif./Ocean View) and sophomore Angela Pratt (Saratoga, Calif./St. Francis) competed at the 2013 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships Thursday, May 23.  Cecil competed in singles play and teamed with Pratt in doubles. It was the first trip to the NCAA Championships for both women's tennis players, as this year's championships are being held at Stowe Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Cecil opened the singles championships with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kellen Alberstone of Bowdoin College before defeating Courtney Lawless of Whitman College in the Round of 16, 6-1, 6-0, advancing to the national quarterfinal match.

In doubles play Cecil and Pratt dropped a 6-1, 6-0 decision to Kristin Lim and Caroline Ward of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the opening round.

Today's first round victory by Cecil assures her of All-America recognition from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The ITA awards All-American recognition to student-athletes on assorted criteria, including earning at least one win at the NCAA Singles Championships. This marks Cecil's second All-America honor as she was named a year ago after finishing the season ranked ninth nationally.

Cecil will now play Lok-Sze Leung of Middlebury on Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the quarterfinals.  The winner will play in the semifinal match at 1:30 p.m. with the championship set for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.