Loughborough University’s women’s tennis team has made it through to the finals of the AEGON Team Tennis National Open to reach the top eight for the first time since gaining promotion to Division One in 2005.
The six-strong team sealed qualification after a run of impressive performances in both the group and playoff stages of the competition, finishing top of their regional league by winning all but one of their six games to qualify for the play-offs where they beat West Midlands side Barnt Green a convincing 6-0.
The team are the only University side within the final eight competing at the National Open which takes place in Bournemouth from September 4-6.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for the women to make it to the final eight,” said head coach John Pankhurst. “We don’t know the draw yet, but the team will be up against professional players and British ranked athletes from the other clubs so it will be very tough. “The team did well during qualification and to have won the play-offs against Barnt Green so comfortably gives us confidence going into the finals.”
The University team of Julia Bone, Suzie Dyrbus and Lise Sissler is bolstered by Loughborough based players Annabelle Blow, Rachel Hall and Sam Vickers.