Carol, partner justify top ranking in doubles 

Georgia Tech doubles teammates Carol Lee, left, and Kate Sharabura show off their first place plaques after topping the ITA Southeast Regional held earlier this month at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex in Atlanta, Georgia.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI’s Carol Lee and Kate Sharabura  won the doubles championship of  the ITA Southeast Regional held earlier this month at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex in Atlanta, Georgia.

The top-ranked doubles team from Georgia Tech defeated University of Florida’s Alicia Dudeney and Carly Briggs, 6-4, 6-2, to win the title.

“Last year my doubles partner and I lost in the first round at this same tournament. So I’m very proud of my partner and I for overcoming the challenges we have been going through. Being No. 1 in the nation boosted our confidence and was even more hungry for more. I dedicate this achievement to my family the most, my teammates, my friends, and my coaches,” said Lee in a social media message to Saipan Tribune. 

Yellow Jackets women’s tennis team coach Rodney Harmon thanked Lee and Sharabura for following his instructions. 

“Stay aggressive! Cover the middle! Move or fake on every first serve,” were some of his tips to the highly touted doubles pair. 

According to ramblinwreck.com, the doubles championship was knotted at 3-3 in the opening set before Lee and Sharabura broke to take a 4-3 edge. Sharabura then held serve for 5-3. Florida made it 5-4 before Lee served out the set, 6-4, to give Georgia Tech the advantage.

Lee and Sharabura then shut the door on Dudeney and Briggs by jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the second set before the Florida pair got on the scoreboard at 4-1. The teams traded the next two games before Sharabura served out the win, 6-4, 6-2.

With the victory, Lee and Sharabura also secured a spot in the ITA National Fall Championships, which will take place from Nov. 2 to 6 at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif.

Georgia Tech returns to action at the Tennessee Fall Invite, Oct. 28-30.

Lee, meanwhile, finished runner-up in singles in the same tournament after the 16th ranked player was upset by No. 26 Lea Ma of University of Georgia

In the report from ramblinwreck.com, the first set was a back-and-forth challenge before Ma held for the first time to gain a 4-2 edge. She closed out the opener, 6-3, but Lee regrouped in the second set. At 2-all, Ma won the next two games for a 4-2 advantage before Lee rallied back to knot the set at 4-4. Lee went up a break at 5-4 and held serve to even the match at one set apiece with a 6-4 win. 

However, fatigue hit Lee in the third set, who was playing her 10th and 11th matches in four days as Ma took a 6-0 final set to claim the title.

Lee and Ma will both advance to the ITA National Fall Championships in singles in November by reaching the championship match.