BALTIMORE, Md. -- Morgan State seniors Ekaterina Iakovleva and Margarita Belyakova have been selected to compete at this season's 2013 Riviera/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Women's All-American Championships. The ITA All-American Championships is one of two national tournaments in the country and will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 6 at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Morgan State is the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to have any players invited. Iakovleva and Belyakova are also the first players in Morgan State history to be selected to participate in this national tournament.

A native of Vladivostok, Russia, Iakovleva is currently ranked #110 in the nation and has been chosen to participate in the pre-qualifying singles field based on her national ranking.

"Ekaterina (Iakovleva) continues to make history here at Morgan with her attaining a national ranking and now being selected to participate in the All-American Tournament," said Morgan State head coach Sean Holcomb-Jones. "It is a great accomplishment for her and the program that she has been selected to participate in the singles and doubles tournament against the Nation's best."

Belyakova, a native of Moscow, Russia, will partner with Iakovleva in the pre-qualifying doubles competition.

"We are really excited about Margarita (Belyakova) being selected as well in doubles," said Holcomb-Jones. "Margarita was only able to play in a few matches last year and we expect for her to have a great year this year as you she will be able to participate the entire season and hopefully join her teammate in the national rankings."