MORROW, Ga. – On August 18, 1997, Clayton State Athletics completed a significant transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The 2017-18 season marked the 20^th anniversary of that accomplishment. Over a seven week span, the Sports Information Office is releasing the top 20 moments in the NCAA era, one on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday with select exceptions.
  The countdown continues with not only a program first, but the only occurrence in program history - No. 2 Women's Tennis Earns Berth in NCAA Division II Final Four in 2011.
 
Women's tennis has a long history of success at Clayton State but that was never more on display than the 2010-11 season. That year they made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and ran through the Southeast Regional before earning a berth in the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Below are the original releases from that season, beginning with the selection release (April 26, 2011) and their tournament opening victory over Wingate (May 2, 2011). It also includes wins over Columbus State (May 3, 2011), No. 25 Queens (May 11, 2011) and California of Pennsylvania (May 12, 2011). Also part of the original releases are the Sweet 16 preview (May 9, 2011) and the Final Four match against No. 3 Lynn (May 13, 2011).
  MORROW, Ga. – The official bids of the 2011 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Tournament were released on Tuesday night, and the Clayton State Lakers are headed to Columbus State as a part of the Southeast Regional No. 2 bracket next week.
 
Clayton State, 14-7 overall and ranked 12th in the nation in Division II, will square off against South Atlantic Conference champion Wingate (21-1) in the opening round, which will be hosted by Columbus State. The Lakers are the third-seeded team overall in the Southeast Regional, while Wingate is seeded sixth.
 
In the other half of the bracket, No. 2-seeded Columbus State will battle seventh-seeded Augusta State. In the Southeast Regional No. 1 bracket, top-ranked and host Armstrong Atlantic will play Erskine, while Georgia College squares off against Flagler. Dates and times for next week's matches have yet to be determined.
 
The winners of the two first round matches will square off in the second round for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" on May 11-14 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
 
This is the fourth straight NCAA Division II National Tournament berth for Clayton State in women's tennis, and the ninth overall in program history. That is the most NCAA Division II National Tournament berths for any team ever at Clayton State. It will be the initial NCAA Division II National Tournament for first-year Laker head coach Le'Trone Mason.
 
Last season, Clayton State advanced the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" for the second time in program history.
  COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Clayton State Laker women's tennis team took its first step towards returning to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" on Monday with a convincing 5-1 victory over Wingate in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Columbus State.
 
Clayton State, ranked 12^th in Division II, improves to 15-7 overall. The Lakers will now square off against rival Columbus State on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Columbus State for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Wingate's season ends at 21-2.
 
Clayton State got off to a strong start by winning two of the three matches in doubles. Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova blanked Wingate's Kara Stasikelis and Kali Ferguson 8-0 at No. 1, followed by Katie White and Marie Cercelletti winning 8-1 over Wingate's Ali Evers and Samantha Alschlager at No. 2.
 
In singles, Martina Dedaj gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead as she rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Ferguson at No. 5. Krommelova followed with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Winston at No. 3, and Semyrodenko finished it off with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Stasikelis at No. 1.
 
CLAYTON STATE 5, WINGATE 1
Singles:
1. Victoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) d. Kara Stasikelis 6-4, 6-2
2. Katie White (CLS) vs. Ali Evers, DNF
3. Ivana Krommelova (CLS) d. Morgan Winston 6-1, 6-0
4. Marie Cercelletti (CLS) vs. Olivia Poole, DNF
5. Martina Dedaj (CLS) d. Kali Ferguson 6-2, 6-0
6. Charlotte Fabricius (CLS) vs. Helen Goreski, DNF
 
Doubles:
1. Semyrodenko/Krommelova (CLS) d. Stasikelis/Ferguson 8-0
2. White/Cercelletti (CLS) d. Evers/Samantha Alschlager 8-1
3. Poole/Winston (W) d. Dedaj/Jessica Budd 9-8
  COLUMBUS, Ga. – It's back to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" for the Clayton State Laker women's tennis team!
 
For the second straight season, the No. 12-ranked Lakers (16-7) are moving on in the NCAA Division II National Tournament as they pulled off an impressive 5-2 victory over No. 8 Columbus State (17-6) in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Tuesday at Columbus State. This is the second straight "Sweet 16" appearance for Clayton State, and the third in program history.
 
The Clayton State women's tennis team is the third Clayton State team this season to advance to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16", joining both men's soccer and women's basketball. The Lakers will play in the "Sweet 16" starting next Wednesday (May 11) in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
 
The Lakers got off to a fast start by sweeping the three doubles matches.
 
Martina Dedaj and Jessica Budd got it rolling for Clayton State at No. 3 with an 8-2 victory over Columbus State's Renata Paiva and Andrea Redrado. That was followed by Katie White and Marie Cercelletti earning an 8-4 decision at No. 2 over the Lady Cougars' Tracy Castillo and Olivera Jokic. Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova finished the sweep at No. 1 with an 8-6 triumph over Loriane Favoretto and Madeline Johnson from Columbus State.
 
Ahead 3-0, the Lakers needed only two victories in singles to clinch. After White dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision against Favoretto at No. 2, Semyrodenko gave Clayton State a 4-1 lead with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1 against Castillo. Columbus State gained another singles point as Jokic defeated the Lakers' Martina Dedaj 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5, but Cercelletti provided the clincher for the Lakers with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Redrado at No. 4.
 
CLAYTON STATE 5, COLUMBUS STATE 2
Singles:
1. Viktoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) d. Tracy Castillo 6-2, 6-2
2. Loriane Favoretto (CS) d. Katie White 6-3, 6-1
3. Ivana Krommelova (CLS) vs. Madeline Johnson, DNF
4. Marie Cercelletti (CLS) d. Andrea Redrado 6-1, 6-4
5. Olivera Jokic (CS) d. Martina Dedaj 6-1, 6-4
6. Charlotte Fabricius (CLS) vs. Renata Paiva, DNF
 
Doubles:
1. Semyrodenko/Krommelova (CLS) d. Favoretto/Johnson 8-6
2. White/Cercelletti (CLS) d. Castillo/Jokic 8-4
3. Dedaj/Jessica Budd (CLS) d. Redrado/Paiva 8-2
  MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State Laker women's tennis team is back in the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" for a second straight season. This time, the Lakers are aiming for more
 
The No. 12-ranked Lakers will compete in the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" beginning on Wednesday at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Clayton State will play No. 25 Queens (N.Y.) in the "Sweet 16" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to the Elite Eight on Thursday at 1 p.m. against the winner of the Drury/California (Penn.) match.
 
The Final Four is set for Friday at 1 p.m., and the NCAA Division II National Championship will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. All matches will be at Sanlando Park.
 
Clayton State brings a 16-7 overall mark into Monday's first-round match under first-year head coach Le'Trone Mason. The Lakers earned their berth in the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" by winning the Southeast Region No. 2 bracket with victories over Wingate (5-1) and Columbus State (5-2). Clayton State is making a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, and the ninth time overall.
 
In last season's "Sweet 16", Clayton State dropped a 5-1 decision against BYU-Hawaii.
 
The Lakers are paced by All-Peach Belt Conference standouts in seniors Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Katie White at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Semyrodenko is ranked 17^th in the nation in singles, while White is ranked 35th. In addition, sophomore Ivana Krommelova and junior Marie Cercelletti have had tremendous seasons at No. 3 and No. 4 singles.
 
In doubles, the No. 1 team of Semyrodenko and Krommelova are ranked No. 12 in the nation in Division II, while the No. 2 team of White and Cercelletti are ranked 19^th.
 
The Lakers will face a Queens squad that enters the "Sweet 16" 19-1 overall and winner of the East Coast Conference championship. The Knights won their first 18 matches to start the season, and then advanced to the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" with a 5-1 victory over Stonehill in the East Regional final. Head coach Alan Nagel's Knights are making their 11th appearance in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, including their 10th straight.
 
Senior Laura Mocodeanu spearheads the Queens attack at No. 1 singles. She is currently 16-3 overall and ranked No. 39 in the nation in singles.
  ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The magical run continued for the Clayton State Laker women's tennis team on Wednesday as the Lakers took the first step towards a possible NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
Playing in the NCAA Division II "Sweet 16" for a second straight season, the Lakers had little trouble against the Knights from Queens as Clayton State rolled to an impressive 5-0 victory at Sanlando Park. The victory vaults the Lakers into the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in program history as 17-7 Clayton State will play Thursday at 1 p.m. against California (Penn.) in the national quarterfinals.
 
Women's tennis is the third different team for Clayton State to advance to at least the NCAA Division II Elite Eight this season, joining men's soccer and women's basketball.
 
Clayton State got it started with a sweep in doubles. Marie Cercelletti and Katie White disposed of Queens' Erika Goldsmith and Laura Mocodeanu 8-1 at No. 2, followed by Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova winning an 8-2 decision at No. 1 over Linda Tatala-Colin and Andrea Salvetova. Martina Dedaj and Jessica Budd finished it for the Lakers at No. 3 with an 8-3 victory over Queens' Maria  Mendes and Taylor Barber.
 
In singles, Semyrodenko blanked Mocodeanu 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1, and then Cercelletti fought off a second-game rally by Daniela Celi to prevail 6-0, 6-4 at No. 4.
 
CLAYTON STATE 5, QUEENS 0
Singles:
1. Viktoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) d. Laura Mocodeanu 6-0, 6-0
2. Katie White (CLS) vs. Linda Tatala-Colin, DNF
3. Ivana Krommelova (CLS) vs. Erika Goldsmith, DNF
4. Marie Cercelletti (CLS) d. Daniela Celi 6-0, 6-4
5. Martina Dedaj (CLS) vs. Maria  Mendes, DNF
6. Charlotte Fabricius (CLS) vs. Andrea Salvetova, DNF
 
Doubles:
1. Semyrodenko/Krommelova (CLS) d. Tatala-Colin/Salvetova 8-2
2. White/Cercelletti (CLS) d. Goldsmith/Mocodeanu 8-1
3. Dedaj/Jessica Budd (CLS) d. Mendes/Taylor Barber 8-3
  ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – With each victory brings a new single-season milestone for the Clayton State Laker women's tennis team.
 
The Lakers reached yet another milestone on Thursday with a thrilling 5-3 victory over California (Penn.) in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Sanlando Park. The victory improves the No. 12-ranked Lakers to 18-7 overall, and Clayton State advances to the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time in the history of Laker women's tennis.
 
Clayton State will square off against No. 3-ranked Lynn in the NCAA Division II semifinals on Friday at 1 p.m. at Sanlando Park. The other semifinal match-up pits No. 2-ranked Barry against No. 4-ranked and three-time defending Division II National Champion Armstrong Atlantic, making it a "Peach Belt-Sunshine State Final Four."
 
The Lakers opened the match winning two of the three matches in doubles. Katie White and Marie Cercelletti were 8-2 winners over the Vulcans' Anastassiya Zherdeva and Axelle Fernandez at No. 2 doubles. At No. 1, Viktoriya Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova also won 8-2 over the Vulcans' Annabel Pieschl and Jade Pondicas.
 
California (Penn.) took a 3-2 lead, winning the first two matches in singles at No. 5 and No. 6. However, Clayton State evened it up as Cercelletti won a 7-5, 6-3 decision at No. 4 against Zherdeva. Semyrodenko followed with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Pieschl at No. 1. And then it was Krommelova finishing off the match as she won 6-4, 6-2 over the Vulcans' Franziska Steinhardt at No. 3.
 
CLAYTON STATE 5, CALIFORNIA (Penn.) 3
Singles:
1. Viktoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) d. Annabel Pieschl 7-5, 6-2
2. Katie White (CLS) vs. Jade Pondicas, DNF
3. Ivana Krommelova (CLS) d. Franziska Steinhardt 6-4, 6-2
4. Marie Cercelletti (CLS) d. Anastassiya Zherdeva 7-5, 6-3
5. Axelle Fernandez (CU) d. Martina Dedaj 6-2, 6-2
6. Laurie Navarro (CU) d. Charlotte Fabricius 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles:
1. Semyrodenko/Krommelova (CLS) d. Pieschl/Pondicas 8-2
2. White/Cercelletti (CLS) d. Zherdeva/Fernandez 8-2
3. Steinhardt/Navarro (CU) d. Dedaj/Jessica Budd 8-3
  ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The magical postseason run in the 2011 season came to an end for the Clayton State Laker women's team on Friday in the NCAA Division II Final Four.
 
The No. 12-ranked Lakers fell 5-0 against No. 3 Lynn in the NCAA Division II National Semifinals at Sanlando Park. The defeat concludes Clayton State's first season under new head coach Le'Trone Mason at 18-8 overall. It was arguably the best season ever in women's tennis at Clayton State as the Lakers advanced to the NCAA Division II "Final Four" for the first time in program history.
 
It also marked the conclusion of illustrious careers for Laker seniors Katie White and Viktoriya Semyrodenko. Together, this duo paced Clayton State to mark of 67-29 for their careers – arguably the best four-year run ever for women's tennis at Clayton State.
 
Lynn (27-2) advances to Saturday's NCAA Division II National Championship match against either No. 2 Barry or No. 4 Armstrong Atlantic.
 
The Lakers dropped all three matches in doubles and two in singles.
 
White and Marie Cercelletti fell 8-0 at No. 2 doubles against Lynn's Magdalena Ekert and Isabell Raich, while Martina Dedaj and Jessica Budd dropped an 8-5 decision against Lynn's Jessica Yanoff and Andrea Berkova at No. 3. Semyrodenko and Ivana Krommelova then dropped a tough 8-4 decision at No. 1 against Lynn's Eleonora Iannozzi and Ioana Ivan.
 
In singles, White fell 6-1, 6-0 against Iannozzi at No. 2, and Dedaj dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Aleksandra Vukadinovic at No. 5.
 
LYNN 5, CLAYTON STATE 0
Singles:
1. Viktoriya Semyrodenko (CLS) Magdalena Ekert DNF
2. Eleonora Iannozzi (L) d. Katie White 6-1, 6-0
3. Ivana Krommelova (CLS) vs. Isabell Raich DNF
4. Marie Cercelletti (CLS) vs. Ioana Ivan DNF
5. Aleksandra Vukadinovic (L) d. Martina Dedaj 6-2, 6-1
6. Charlotte Fabricius (CLS) vs. Andrea Berkova DNF
 
Doubles:
1. Iannozzi/Ivan (L) d. Semyrodenko/Krommelova 8-4
2. Ekert/Raich (L) d. White/Cercelletti 8-0
3. Jessica Yanoff/Andrea Berkova (L) d. Dedaj/Jessica Budd 8-5
 
Schedule of NCAA 20^th Anniversary Countdown Releases
No. 1 (July 11)
No. 2 Women's Tennis Earns Berth in NCAA Division II Final Four in 2011 (July 9)
No. 3 Men's Soccer Makes Run to Elite Eight; Finishes No. 5 in Nation (July 5)
No. 4 Women's Basketball Makes NCAA Tournament for a Decade (July 2)
No. 5 Jackeline Nieto Becomes Only Five Time All-American in Laker History (June 29)
No. 6 Kreutzer Delivers Freshman Cross Country Season For The Ages in 2004 (June 27)
No. 7 Men's Basketball Makes Improbable Run to 2008 NCAA Region Final (June 25)
No. 8 Men's Golf's Wilcox Produces 2008 PBC Championship and NCAA Appearance (June 22)
No. 9 Marti Bartis' Two First-Team Selections Anchor Academic All-America Selections (June 20)
No. 10 Men's Golf Becomes First Clayton State Program to Reach NCAA Championships in 1999 (June 18)
No. 11 Eight Individual PBC Championships in Calendar Year by Cross Country and Track (June 15)
No. 12 Men's Soccer Wins Five PBC Championships in Three Seasons From 2005-07 (June 13)
No. 13 Women's Tennis Claims Rare PBC Championship in 2001 (June 11)
No. 14 Women's Soccer Sweeps PBC Titles and Heads to NCAA's in 2005 (June 8)
No. 15 Women's Basketball Makes First Elite Eight in 2006-07 (June 6)
No. 16 Men's Cross Country Delivers Record Setting 2005 Season (June 4)
No. 17 Women's Basketball Wins No. 1 vs. No. 2 Game vs. Lander on February 10, 2011 (June 1)
No. 18 Men's Basketball Wins First Ever PBC Championship in 2001-02 Regular Season Finale (May 30)
No. 19 Women's Cross Country Wins PBC, Heads to 2012 NCAA National Championships (May 28)
No. 20 Women's Tennis Makes NCAA Tournament in 1999 (May 25)