Chambers wins regional title
Courtesy photo<br> Nikki Chambers, left, poses with head coach Paul Worstell, second from left, Tanya Ratana, second from right, and assistant coach Chad Thomason, right, after their regional championship win over the weekend.
LIBERTY, Mo. — Moses Lake graduate Nikki Chambers and her women’s doubles partner Tanya Ratana advanced to the national tournament after winning the regional championship for William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.
Chambers, a junior, and Ratana, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, entered the Small College Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Regional Championships over the weekend with the overall top seed.
The three-day tournament began Sept. 25 and wrapped up Sept. 27 after Chambers and Ratana claimed the doubles championship. Chambers and Ratana knocked off Carolina Verdezoto and Valeria Avina from Graceland University of Independence, Mo., 8-3 in the finals to earn the championship.
With the win over Avina and Verdezoto, William Jewell College head coach Paul Worstell said his is impressed with Chambers and Ratana this season.
“Nikki and Tanya have really developed into an outstanding doubles team,” he said. “They both worked so hard over the last few days and I am very proud of them, along with our whole team.”
The win over the team from Graceland University sent the William Jewell College doubles duo to the national competition Oct. 14 through Oct. 17 in Mobile, Ala.
Worstell said he and his players are excited for next month’s national tournament.
“We are really looking forward to playing in the national tournament in a couple of weeks,” he said.
After winning the regional championship, Chambers qualified for the national tournament for the third consecutive year and it is the second consecutive trip for her doubles partner, Ratana.