CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Virginia did not ease its way into the new season. It arrived in Chapel Hill and went straight to work.
Across three days at the Kitty Harrison Invitational, the Cavaliers used the Chewning Tennis Center as an early proving ground, with first-year standout Shannon Lam wasting no time in announcing herself. Slotted into an eight-player singles flight, Lam cut through the draw with three straight victories to claim the title in her group, an ideal debut for a player just settling into college tennis.
Her win set the tone. Behind her, Virginia’s depth began to show.
Katie Rolls, Alyssa James and Blanca Pico Navarro each pieced together two victories of their own, driving through their sections to reach the finals of their respective flights. It was the kind of opening weekend coaches like to see in September: not just one hot hand, but a cluster of players stringing together wins and building form.
The fall calendar will not slow down for them now.
Next up is Cary, N.C., where the Cavaliers head into the ITA All-American Championships, running Sept. 19-27. It is more than just another stop on the schedule; it’s the first gateway to the NCAA Individual Championships later in the year.
For Lam and her teammates, Chapel Hill was a strong start. Cary will show just how far this group can push that momentum when the stakes begin to rise.
