Hamner Earns Spot in Final of ITA All-American Championships

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sarah Hamner, the ITA No. 1 Newcomer, advanced to the main draw singles finals of the ITA All-American Championships on Saturday. She upset the No. 44 player in the country to earn her spot.
 
In the semifinals, Hamner faced No. 44 Taisiya Pachkaleva of Pepperdine. The two played an even match early in the set until Hamner went up 3-2. Her momentum continued and she only dropped one more game to take the set 6-3.
 
The second set was closely contested, and Pachkaleva went up 3-2. Hamner came back to tie it up 3-3, even earning a point with an ace. The battle continued and Hamner went up 6-5, but Pachkaleva fought back to make the score six all.
 
In the tiebreak, the South Carolina freshman was unshaken. She went up 4-0 before Pachkaleva could score a point. Hamner continued to fend off her Pepperdine foe and went up 6-3. Pachkaleva scored one more point, but Hamner made it her last. She won the final point with an impressive serve that Pachkaleva dumped into the net, taking the second set 7-6 (4) and claiming her spot in the finals.
 
Hamner, the first Gamecock to ever reach the final of the tournament, will face No. 12 Alexa Noel of Iowa on Sunday.
 
Semifinals Results
Singles – Main Draw
Sarah Hamner (SC) def. No. 44 Taisiya Pachkaleva (PEPP) 6-4, 7-6 (4)