LAUREL SPRINGS STUDENTS DOMINATE AT 42ND ANNUAL EASTER BOWL; EVAN KING AND CHRISTINA MCHALE ARE THE BIG WINNERS IN THE ITF 18S

April 20, 2009, Palm Desert, California: Simply put, the tennis-playing students from Laurel Springs School have enjoyed amazing success on the courts over the past several weeks, including the worlds most well-known junior tennis eventthe Easter BowlSeena Hamiltons classic national junior championships, which recently played for the 42^nd consecutive year.

McHale dominated throughout the week and served noticed that she should be considered a future pro prospect with her 6-0, 6-3 win over top-seeded Lauren Embree of Marco Island, Florida. McHale was playing in her first junior tournament since winning the Australian Open Junior doubles in January. She reeled off nine straight games for a 6-0, 3-0 lead, before Embree finally got on the board.

McHale was playing in her fifth Easter Bowl and said it was important to finally take home the title. I always look forward to this tournament, she said. This was a little unexpected, but definitely one of my biggest wins.

Both King and McHale will be spending a lot of time together this summer. Two of Americas most promising juniors, they were recently selected to play World Team Tennis for the defending champion, New York Buzz, as part of an all-juniors team.

        An incredible 78 players entered in the Easter Bowl Nationals are currently enrolled as Laurel Springs students. That just speaks to how effective the program is, said Hamilton, considered a leading authority on junior tennis. It seems like all the top kids go to Laurel Springs, and with both Marilyn and Amber on-site, it has kind of a family feel. The players cant stop raving about Laurel Springs.

        A New Yorker like Hamilton, girls 14s Easter Bowl finalist, Julie Elbaba, agreed with her. Ever since I started at Laurel Springs, Ive been able to work more on my tennis, she said. I was missing too much school playing these national junior events. With Laurel Springs, Im able to get my studies done online and then have more time to concentrate on my tennis.

        Elbaba was the top-seeded player in the 14s and lost a tough three-setter in the singles final. She did capture the gold ball for her victory in doubles with partner Alyssa Smith. For her play, Hamilton awarded Elbaba the American Airlines Award, a free airline ticket she can use for her next tournament anywhere American Airlines flies. 

        Whitney Kay, the No. 2 seed from Alpharetta, Georgia, got as far as Elbaba in the girls 16s, falling in the final to Carolina Price and earning a silver USTA ball. And then, like Elbaba, Kay came back to take the doubles, teaming with Price to live up to their top-seeding, to go home as Easter Bowl champions.

Kay knocked out Lynda Xepoleas of Gold River, California, in the Round of 16 in singles, but Xepoleas came back to take home the bronze ball in the 16s singles with a third-place finish in both singles and doubles. Ashley Dai also made her way through the back draw and captured a semifinal consolation finish.

Laurel Springs student Monica Puig was a runner-up in the girls 18s doubles, and in the boys 18s singles, Bob Overbeek fell to Sandgren in the semifinals. Junior Ore lost in the boys 18s doubles semifinals.

        Just as important as performance on the court, Laurel Springs student Jessica Liang was honored by the USTA as winner of the Sportsmanship award in the girls 14s. Liang won the consolation singles title and was praised for her on-court demeanor and overall sportsmanship.

Amber Walker at the booth