From NYU Athletics

For the first time in program history the New York University women's tennis team has produed an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Champion. In fact, the squad produced two champions as Laila El Dessouki and Carmen Lai combined to win the ITA Northeast Regional Doubles title over the weekend in Geneva, NY.

The duo won five matches along the way, culminating with a tough three-set finals tilt against opponents form Vassar College on Monday, September 29, en route to winning the championship.

"Our players showed a lot of heart and a lot of resiliency throughout, especially after dropping the second set in the final match today," said Head Coach Horace Choy. "They were even-keeled and played just a little bit better then their opponents at the end."

El Dessouki and Lai had faced their Vassar opponents, Ava Sadeghi and Samantha Schapiro, one week earlier at the Vassar Scramble. The Brewers duo edged the Violets in that meeting 9-7.  

This time, after winning four matches to advance to the finals, El Dessouki and Lai took the first set from their familiar opponents 6-2, but dropped the second 3-6.

Both teams held serve through the first six games of the final set before the NYU pair were able to break their opponents. After holding serve and posting one more break, the final set went to the Violets 6-3.

"From the beginning of the fall season, I thought these two meshed well," Choy explained. "I thought they would complement each other, both in demeanor and in style."

Along the way to the title, El Dessouki and Lai defeated opponents from SUNY Brockport (8-0), University of Rochester (8-2), and two different twosomes from Skidmore College (8-4 and 8-5).

The victory automatically qualifies the NYU pair for the USTA (United States Tennis Association)/ITA National Small College Championships, which will be held Thursday-Sunday, October 9-12, at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, SC. The field will be comprised of the doubles champions from each of the ITA's eight regions.

El Sessouki and Lai, who are now 7-2 as a doubles team so far this fall, are also guaranteed ITA All-America honors.
 
"Obviously, putting them together was a good idea," Choy concluded.