Oct. 21, 2009

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - For the second straight year, Illinois women's tennis head coach Michelle Dasso has been selected to coach the United States at the fourth annual Master'U BNP Paribas, an international competition featuring the top collegiate players from around the world. The eight-team field also includes Belgium, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Mexico and will take place December 9-14 in Poitiers, France. Greg Patton, the head men's tennis coach at Boise State, also was chosen to help guide the six-member team.

"I'm extremely thankful to the USTA (United States Tennis Association) for selecting me to represent the U.S. as one of the coaches for the second straight year," Dasso said. "Hopefully, we can build upon last year's experience and bring home the gold. I look forward to working with the top collegiate players in the country and learning from all other coaches I will have the opportunity to interact with."

The U.S. team is comprised of the top American male and female finishers at the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships, the top male and female American applicants in the 2009 Men's and Women's ITA Preseason Division I Singles rankings, while remaining roster spots were selected by a committee of USTA Player Development and ITA coaches and staff.

This year's squad includes Steve Johnson (USC), Austin Krajicek (Texas A&M), Eric Quigley (Kentucky), Irina Falconi (Georgia Tech), Kristy Frilling (Notre Dame) and Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee).

The teams will compete in a best-of-seven format consisting of two men's and two women's singles matches, one men's and one women's doubles match, and one mixed doubles match.