Emory's Lorne McManigle Wins the NCAA Division III Individual Women's Tennis Championship

Lorne McManigle became the second individual champion in the history of the Emory University women's tennis program, as the sophomore defeated Ploy Suthijindawong 6-2, 6-1 at the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships.

"It hasn't really set in yet," said McManigle after the match, "But, it feels great to bring the championship back to Emory.

McManigle, who entered the tournament as the fifth seed, was pitted against the unseeded Suthhijindawong of the College of St. Scholastica.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair through the first five games, with neither player able to break the other's serve.  Leading 3-2, McManigle took control of the match in the sixth game by breaking Suthijindawong's serve with a win after the first deuce.  She would then claim the first set, winning the next game after four deuces, followed by a victory after deuce point in the eighth game to break Suthijindawong's serve for the second time in the set.

McManigle carried the momentum from the first set into the second set, winning her serve in the first game before dropping the second.  However, McManigle played dominantly the rest of the way, winning five straight games to clinch the victory, including two service breaks of Suthijindawong.  McManigle did not have her serve broken throughout the match.

"I have never had a player with as much focus as Lorne," said Emory head coach Amy Bryant.  "She played everyone exactly right throughout the tournament."  

McManigle becomes the second individual in Emory history to win the NCAA Division III Women's Championship, joining former Eagle Mary Ellen Gordon, who won the singles championship in both 2003 and 2004.  McManigle had the opportunity to earn the championship in front of a large number of Emory supporters, who made the trip up I-85 to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to see the title match.

Later today, on the other side of the country, Emory's Michael Goodwin will be competing for the NCAA Division III Men's Individual Championship.  Should he win, it would mark the 3rd time in NCAA Division III history that the men's and women's individual champion has come from the same school.  Principia's Toby Clark and Courtney Allen accomplished the feat in both 1985 and 1987.

With the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Championships, the 2008-09 season has ended for the Eagles.