Philadelphia, Pa.  - Freshman netter Marissa Alikpala (Lincoln, RI/The Wheeler School) proved her mettle against the East's best tennis players by reaching the second round of the Omni Hotels ITA Eastern Regionals at the University of Pennsylvania, Saturday through Tuesday, October 27-30.

Alikpala's consistency and penetrating groundstrokes were too much for her first round opponent, West Virginia University's Anna Marie Underwood. After winning the first set 7-6 in a thrilling 11-9 tiebreak, Alikpala cruised to a 6-1 second set victory.

Alikpala then faced the tournament's #25 seed, Cornell's Suzanne Wright. After battling to a first set tiebreak, the more experienced Cornell senior ultimately prevailed over the Raider freshman 7-6 (5), 6-0.

In doubles action, Colgate was represented by Lindsey Suffredini (Burlington, MA/Burlington) and Emily Wenink (Penfield, N.Y./Webster) The Raider duo dropped a hard-fought, first round match 9-7 to St. Bonaventure's Natalie Rumpel and Johanna Pesolo.