A pair of newcomers have already left an imprint on the New York University Women's Tennis Program. 

Freshmen Dakota Fordham (New York, NY/Laurel Springs) and Carol Plakk (Tallinn, Estonia/Audentese Spordigümnaasium), competing in only their second collegiate tournaments, are now champions and All-Americans. Competing at the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Northeast Regional Championships in Geneva, NY, the duo won the doubles title and Fordham defeated Plakk in the singles final. 

"I am very happy with the way I played throughout all of the matches," Fordham said. "It's a very exciting thing for me to have a new title in both singles and doubles, and I can't wait to compete at Nationals."

Both have now qualified for the ITA Oracle Cup National Championships in October and secured All-America status.

"It was a great weekend," said Head Coach Horace Choy. "I thought Dakota and Carol were dominant from beginning to end. As good as their results were, they have better tennis ahead of them. I am excited for them and know they will bring their best to Nationals." 

The duo overpowered their opponents throughout the three-day competition, which was hosted by William Smith College from Saturday-Monday, September 18-20. In the four pro-set matches prior to the finals, the pair won by scores of 8-0, 8-1, 8-4, and 8-1.

Then, in the final match against Charlotte Roarty and Jenny Landells of The College of New Jersey, the Violet duo breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 victory.  

"I am very happy with how my first regionals went," Plakk revealed. "I played some good matches and Dakota and I make a good doubles team. I am super excited to play at the Nationals and see how we will do there."

In the singles competition, both players won five matches as they headed toward the inevitable showdown of the two top seeds in the tournament. Plakk, the top seed, won the first set 7-5 but trailed in the second 4-1 when severe cramps forced her to retire.

"Playing against teammates is always hard, and this was no different," Choy said. "The women handled it extremely well. It's a shame it ended the way it did, but both finalists make it to Nationals so maybe they can meet up again. They are both deserving and will represent the region well."  

The double victory for NYU continued an impressive streak in which the Violets have captured the last four ITA Northeast Region doubles titles and three of the last four singles crowns.

"Carol and Dakota continue an NYU streak of ITA doubles champions, which is now four consecutive," Choy said. "It's impressive to me that in an individual sport our women are able to come together in a very short time and dominate in doubles." 

The ITA Oracle Cup National Championships, which will be held in Rome, GA, from October 14-17, will feature the singles and doubles winners and runner-ups from the Association's eight regions. The regional winners have already earned All-America status.