MALKO AND MILLAN FALL AT THE ITA ALL-AMERICAN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

10/2/2011

Aliaksandr Malko (above) and Javier Millan were both making their first career appearance at the ITA All-Americans

TULSA, Okla. - Two members of the Sacramento State men’s tennis team took part in the pre-qualifying round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships, held at the University of Tulsa on Oct. 1-2.

Senior Javier Millan and junior Aliaksandr Malko both represented Sacramento State in the premier hard court event of the fall collegiate season, which features the top players in Div. I. Both Millan and Malko were making their first career appearances at the event.

After receiving a buy in the first round of pre-qualifying, Malko fell to Yale’s John Huang in the second round by a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 score. Millan also lost his match in three sets, falling to Wichita State’s Juan Estenssoro in the first round, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

A total of 161 competitors from around the nation were selected to the single-elimination, pre-qualifying portion of the event with only 16 players from that field advancing to the qualifying round. Malko would have needed to win three matches to reach qualifying and Millan would have needed to win four matches.

Singles quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions from the main draw will receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, Nov. 3-6, in Flushing, N.Y. The only Hornet in school history to qualify for that event was Kiryl Harbatsiuk who accomplished the feat last year.

SINGLES DRAW

PRE-QUALIFYING ROUND

ALIAKSANDR MALKO
Oct. 1 - Round 1 - Bye
Oct. 1 - Round 2 - lost to John Huang (Yale), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

JAVIER MILLAN
Oct. 1 - Round 1 - lost to Juan Estenssoro (Wichita State), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2