September 26, 2006

JACKSON - In the inaugural Major Invitational hosted by Millsaps College this past weekend, the Jackson State men and women took the crown, while the Major men finished second and the women sixth overall.

The first year tournament featured four other schools including Centenary, Belhaven, Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech.

Emily Stewart played in the first flight and lost to Jackson State's Chambwe Fungiasi 6-3, 7-5 and Centenary's Christine Majchrowicz in a close 7-5, 4-6, 10-2 match.  Stewart was defeating Belhaven's Kirby Smith 6-4 after the first set but was forced to retire because of sickness.

Freshman Allison Zakaras of Gulfport played in the second flight, winning her first two collegiate matches by defeating Valentina Prado of JSU 6-3, 6-4 and Nelly Tualla of Southern Arkansas 1-6, 7-6(3), 10-4.  Zakaras was later knocked off in the finals by JSU’s Pauline Vargas 6-0, 6-4.

Beth Sadler played in the third flight and dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision to JSU’s Teega Cross, a 6-1, 7-5 decision to Tami Chadick of Southern Arkansas and a 7-5, 6-1 decision to Jennifer Majchrowicz of Centenary.

Alisa Vincent, the sophomore from Tuscaloosa, Ala., dropped Lindsey Ezell of Centenary 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 in the quarters and later lost to eventual champ, Angela Rose 6-3, 6-1 in Flight C.

Freshman Beth Fossen of Ocean Springs was defeated by Megan Phinny of Southern Arkansas 6-4, 7-5.

In doubles action, Stewart and Zakaras lost to eventual champs Cross and Vargas in a tight match 8-5, while Vincent and Fossen lost both matches to Southern Arkansas and Centenary in identical fashion.