Array, Novakova Capture ITA Southeast Region Singles Titles

SUMTER, S.C. - Armstrong Atlantic State junior Rafael Array and sophomore Sona Novakova each captured the 2009 ITA Southeast Region singles titles on Monday morning at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C., earning a berth into the ITA Small College National Championships in a month's time.

Array, a No. 9-16 seed in the bracket, knocked off Flagler's David Cotrone, 6-0, 6-2, to earn the region singles title. He is the third straight AASU men's player to capture the regional, following in the footsteps of Eudaldo Bonet (2008) and Robert Jendelund (2007).

The top-seeded Novakova, meanwhile, defated teammate and second-seeded Alida Muller-Wehlau, 6-3, 6-1, to earn her second straight region championship - Novakova was the ITA DII singles champion in 2008. The Lady Pirates have also captured five straight region titles as Johanna Dahlback won the title in 2007 and Iuliia Stupak notched titles in 2006 and 2005.

Array and Novakova will now advance to the ITA Small College National Championships in Mobile, Ala., on Oct. 15-18, where they will meet the winners of the other seven DII regions in an eight-person bracket. The winner of the DII bracket will then advance to the ITA Super Bowl of Small College Tennis, featuring the winners of hte DIII, NAIA and Junior College brackets.