Alexandra Kallish Named Rookie of the Week

2016 Sep 27

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Alexandra Kallish of Tampa 33606 has been recognized by the Liberty League, earning the conference's Rookie of the Week, it has been announced.

Playing in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Regional, Kallish (H.B. Plant) forced a third set and fought off six match points, but ultimately lost in the semifinals in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (5) to a foe from SUNY Brockport. She opened the three-day tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over an opponent from the University of Rochester and then won her second round match, 6-2, 6-1, over a foe from Vassar College. In the third round, Kallish defeated the second seed, Ada Wiggins of Skidmore College, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, before topping Renee Karchere-Sun, also of Skidmore, 6-4, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.

In doubles, Kallish and partner Melanie Frank (Durham, CT / Coginchaug Regional) won their first two matches before bowing out in the quarterfinals. They won 8-5, defeating a team from Union College, and 9-7 over a duo from Vassar, before losing 8-4 to the eventual champions, a pair from The College of New Jersey.

While in high school, Kallish played four years of varsity tennis. She was the team captain as a senior after helping the team to the 2013 state championship. The squad was second in 2014 and third in 2016.

RPI, which is coached by Caitlin Crowley, is back in action on Saturday at SUNY Geneseo (11am).