May 2, 2003

NORFOLK, VA -- The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Subcommittees have selected the 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams that will compete in the 2003 NCAA Division I Tennis Championships. Among those selected include Old Dominion's junior Nataly Cahana (Qiriat Bialik, Israel) and the doubles team of junior Zoltan Csanadi (Timisoara, Romania) and sophomore Izak van der Merwe (Kempton Park, South Africa).

The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 21-26 in Athens, Ga., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 16-20).

Cahana makes her third NCAA singles appearance having reached the second round of play in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Currently ranked 26th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, she earned her third consecutive CAA Player of the Year award last month and has compiled a 27-7 overall mark to date. Among her season highlights include the finals of the ITA All-American Tournament and the William & Mary Fall Invitational. She has been the highest ranked women's singles player all season long in the CAA and has posted victories over five players who were ranked among the top 30 nationally this season.

Csanadi and Izak van der Merwe, a First Team All-CAA doubles selection, will gear up for their first ever NCAA appearance. The duo is currently ranked 15th in the latest ITA poll, recording a 21-4 overall mark and 7-2 dual meet record. The two captured the ITA Region II Championship as well at the Virginia Tournament Title. They also reached the finals of the ITA National Indoor Championships.