WEST POINT, NY – Alina Balasa (East Brunswick, NJ) and Jill Markowitz (Forest Hills, NY) teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles consolation title as Rutgers competed at the 2003 Eastern Collegiate Invitational in hosted by Army in West Point, NY.

After losing their first round match to Annie Davies and Hayley Hughes, 8-6, Balasa and Markowitz rebounded to win three straight matches, culminating with a 8-4 decision over Natasha Bode and Estee Bartell in the consolation finals. Overall, Balasa and Markowitz finished 3-1 in their draw, including a pair of convincing wins (8-0 and 8-1, respectively) in the consolation quarterfinals and semifinals.

At No. 1 singles, Andrea Weckstein (Holmdel, NJ) went 2-1, advancing to the semifinals before falling to Milena Matijevic, 6-1, 6-3. Weckstein defeated Erika Reggiani (6-2, 6-2) and Liddy Bartell (6-3, 6-4).

Ketevan Shmakova (Dover, NJ) was Rutgers’ representative at No. 2 singles, advancing to the quarterfinals. Shmakova lost to Allison Davidson, 6-2, 6-2, and defeated Mayo Hasado 6-3, 6-1.

Helen Magomedova split her matches at No. 3 singles, ousting Sara Bitetti, 6-2, 6-4 and losing to Danielle Rautenberg, 6-1, 6-1.

Lauren Edelschein (Medford Lakes, NJ) and Kaitlin Link (Ontario, Canada) went 2-1 at No. 2 doubles, defeating Meg Helstowski and Lauren Koenig in the first round, 8-1, and Michelle Feller and Alix Reynolds in the second round, 8-0. In the semifinals, Edelschein and Link lost to Mel Bundoc and Megan Noble, 8-2.

Rutgers is back in action next weekend at the USTA Invitational in Forest Hills, NY. Competition begins on Friday, Oct. 10 and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 12.