Sept. 30, 2008

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - Auburn women's tennis player Alex Haney split two matches Tuesday in the qualifying tournament of the Rivera/ITA Women's All-American Championships at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Haney, ranked 51st nationally, upended No. 39 Chisako Sugiyama of Michigan, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, in her first match of the day.

"My first match today was a good win," Haney said. "I had to play tough and fight for it. Sugiyama was a good player and I was very excited to come away with the win."

In the quarterfinals, Haney suffered a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Georgia's Nadja Gilchrist to bow out of the qualifying tournament.

Despite the loss, Haney will return to action with doubles partner Melissa Koning Thursday in the 16-team main draw. The pair enters the tournament as the fourth-ranked duo in the nation.

Auburn's ninth-ranked Fani Chifchieva will open play on Thursday in the 32-player singles main draw.

To be selected to the main draw, the returning national champion, 2008 All-Americans, an ITA National Summer Championships champion and one regional representative receive an automatic entry into the tournament.