Winston Salem, N.C. – The Tiger women’s tennis squad took the court for the first day of action at the ITA Carolina Regionals on the campus of Wake Forest. Only three Tigers competed in the qualifying round of singles on Thursday while all six women saw action for the opening round of main draw doubles.
Senior Sydney Riley and junior Laura Marti each took their first singles match of the day to advance to the second round of the qualification draw. Riley downed Wofford’s Georgia Fischer in straight sets while Marti outlasted Winthrop’s Rafaela Santos, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. However, both Tigers fell in the second round of competition.
In doubles, Louka/Riley and Middlebrooks/DeSpain each managed first round victories but were knocked out of contention in the second round.
Three Tigers are slated to begin singles main draw action tomorrow as Mackenzy Middlebrooks, Ali DeSpain and Eleni Louka each earned automatic bids into the bracket. Tournament play continues on Friday at 9:00 am.
Doubles
Elliot/Strickland (Western Carolina) def. Marti/Nait Omar – 8-4
Middlebrooks/DeSpain def. Cowper/Dean (Charlotte) – 8-4
Louka/Riley def. Barquero/Giddings (UNC Greensboro) – 8-2
Campana/Carter (Wake Forest) def. Louka/Riley – 8-3
Romf/Walker (Furman) def. Middlebrooks/DeSpain – 8-7 (2)
Singles
Ema Lazic (Duke) def. Zaina Nait Omar – 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-5
Sydney Riley def. Georgia Fischer (Wofford) – 6-1, 6-1
Nastja Rettich (East Carolina) def. Sydney Riley – 6-1, 6-2
Laura Marti def. Rafaela Santos (Winthrop) – 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
Elizabeth Truluck (Davidson) def. Laura Marti – 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
10:15 am Eleni Louka vs. Julia Adams (Furman)
12:30 pm Mackenzy Middlebrooks vs. Sophia Patel (Western Carolina)
1:30 pm Ali DeSpain vs. Cameron Morra (North Carolina)
