ATHENS, Ga. (May 23, 2007) ? Following the University of South Florida women's tennis team's second consecutive berth in NCAA play, senior Shadisha Robinson begins singles championship play Wednesday, battling Tennessee's Blakeley Griffith in the opening round.

The 28th ranked Robinson carries a 12-7 dual record on the year and a 25-14 mark overall.  Her top wins this season include a three set victory over No. 30 Catrina Thompson of Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Championship match and wins over No. 16 Fani Chifchieva of Auburn and No. 18 Zuzana Zemenova of Baylor in fall tournament play.  Robinson reached the semifinals of both the Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships and the Wilson/ITA South Regional Championships this fall.

No. 26 Blakeley, a senior for the No. 21 ranked Volunteers, brings an overall record of 25-15 to the court, including victories in dual play over No. 46 Martina Banikova of Mississippi State and No. 47 Gira Schofield of South Carolina.

Should Robinson prevail today, she will face the winner of No. 14 Celia Durkin of Stanford and No. 99 Vanessa Frankowski tomorrow in the Round of 32.  The National Championship match will take place on Mon., May 28 at host site UGA.

This is the second straight year that the Bulls have been represented in NCAA singles play, with Junior Courtney Vernon competing in the first round last year.  Vernon was listed as an alternate this year after Robinson was named the BIG EAST's automatic qualifier.  

USF has sent seven individual players to the singles championships in its 42 years of women's tennis.  In 1986, Laura Garcia and Ana Almansa were both selected; marking the only time that more than one USF player was selected.