SAINT PETER, Minn. – For the second consecutive season, the Gustavus women’s tennis team has produced the singles champion at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships. On Monday morning, Ginger Valentine (So., Delano, Minn.) defeated Ali Kopiecki of Hamline 6-0, 6-4 to earn All-America status. Valentine joins teammate Bri Hartmann as ITA Midwest Region singles champions as Hartmann achieved the feat last year. Valentine is the 42nd All-American in program history.
“Ginger played so tough all weekend,” Head Coach Jon Carlson said. “The movement and shot-making ability was the best I’ve ever seen in her career, in what has already been an amazing career. She earned the championship going through some very tough players.”
Valentine started her title run with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Natali Sorajja of Macalester. She then beat Ashley Solberg of Concordia-Wisconsin 6-0, 6-0, and Jill Weintzell of Bethel 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Valentine, the tournament’s No. 3 seed, topped Natalie Wijesinghe of UW-Eau Claire 6-2, 7-5, setting up a match with the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Gabi Kitchell of UW-Whitewater. Valentine went on to upset Kitchell 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the semifinals.
Valentine will next compete at the ITA Cup on Oct. 11-14 at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Ga. The ITA Cup features eight regional champions competing for the national title.