CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Clemson women’s tennis team concluded play at the ITA Regional Championships, competing in singles and doubles draws from Thursday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 19, at the University of North Carolina. The tournament featured strong performances from multiple Tigers.

Thursday, Oct. 17:

In the opening rounds of singles play, Candela Yecora made an impressive start by defeating Coastal Carolina’s Brunelle Kouam with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory in the qualifying round of 64. Gaia Parravicini also had a successful day, winning both of her matches, starting with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over UNCG’s Sydney Bly in the qualifying round of 64 and following up with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 performance against Marian Reding of Elon in the Round of 32. Parravicini’s wins allowed her to advance to the main draw round of 64.

In doubles play, the pair of Cisovska and Parravicini advanced to the Round of 32 after their opponents from the University of North Carolina Greensboro withdrew due to injury. However, the other Clemson doubles teams faced tough competition, with Sophie Clayton and Kinsey Crawford falling to Coastal Carolina’s Brunelle Kouam and Nicole Abel, 8-2, and Ria Bhakta and Artemis Aslanisvili losing to South Carolina’s Lauren Friedman and Jana Stojanova, 8-2.

Friday, Oct. 18:

The second day saw continued success for the Tigers in singles play. Aslanisvili kicked off the day with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Maja Jekauc from the College of Charleston. No. 58 Ria Bhakta began a string of wins off by defeating Emilia Roslund from Gardener-Webb, 6-4, 6-1, and later advancing to the Round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Charlotte’s Whitley Pate.

Other key wins came from Amelie Smejkalova, who battled through a challenging three-set match to defeat Ni Zi from Charlotte, 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2, and Sophia Hatton, who secured a 6-2, 6-1 win over Alizee Poulin from Gardener-Webb. Both advanced to the main draw round of 32 with subsequent victories later in the day. Hatton upset No. 108 Gabriella Broadfoot from North Carolina State, 6-2, 6-4, while Smejkalova took down No. 49 Katie Codd from Duke in a thrilling three-set comeback, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2.

In doubles play, the team of Smejkalova and Hatton earned an 8-3 win over Presbyterian’s Claudia Sanchez Quesada, advancing to the round of 16.

Saturday, Oct. 19 Recap:

On the final day of competition for the Tigers, No. 58 Bhakta saw her tournament run end after falling to NC State’s Mia Slama, 6-3, 6-4, in the round of 16. Smejkalova and Hatton were also defeated in singles play by their respective opponents, No. 26 Carson Tanguilig from the University of North Carolina and Kaitlyn Carnicella from the University of South Carolina.

In doubles action, Smejkalova and Hatton fought hard but ultimately fell to NC State’s Gabriella Broadfoot and Maddy Zampardo, 8-4, in the Round of 16.

The Tigers will look to build on their experiences from the ITA Regional Championships as they prepare for their next competition at the ITF Hilton Head W35, which will be held in Hilton Head, S.C., from Oct. 21-27.

For more updates on Clemson Women’s Tennis, follow the Tigers on social media @Clemsonwtennis and visit ClemsonTigers.com.

RESULTS

Thursday, Oct. 17 Draws:
Singles:
Q64 | Candela Yecora (CU) def. Brunelle Kouam (CCU), 6-1, 6-1
Q32 | Ni Xi (UNCC) def. Candela Yecora (CU), 6-2, 6-4
Q64 | Gaia Parravicini (CU) def. Sydney Bly (UNCG), 6-1, 6-4
Q32 | Gaia Parravicini (CU) def. Marian Reding (Elon), 6-1, 6-2

Doubles:
MD64 | Romana Cisovska & Gaia Parravicini (CU)  def. Ava Krug & Lauren Thomson (UNCG), Wd [inj]
MD64 | Brunelle Kouam & Nicole Abel (CCU) def. Sophie Clayton & Kinsey Crawford (CU), 8-2
MD64 | Lauren Friedman & Jana Stojanova (UofSC) def. Ria Bhakta & Artemis Aslanisvili (CU), 8-2
MD64 | Simone Bergeron &  Lisa Kranec ( EU) def. Anabelle Davis & Candela Yecora (CU), Wd [inj]

Friday, Oct. 18 Draws:
Singles:
MD64 | Artemis Alanisvili (CU) def. Maja Jekauc (CoC) 6-4, 6-2
MD64 | No. 58 Ria Bhakta (CU) def. Emilia Roslund (GWU), 6-4, 6-1
MD64 | Amelie Smejkalova (CU) def. Ni Zi (UNCC), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2
MD64 | Sophia Hatton (CU) def. Alizee Poulin (GWU), 6-2, 6-1  
MD64 | Marina Skegro (CSU) def.  Romana Cisovska (CU) 7-6(3), 6-4
MD64 | Savannah Dada-Mascoll (ASU) def. Gaia Parravicini (CU), 6-0, 1-6, 7-5
MD32 | Tatum Evans (UNC) def. Artemis Aslanisvili (CU), 6-4, 5-5 RET[inj]
MD32 | No. 58 Ria Bhakta (CU) def. Whitley Pate (UNCC), 6-2, 6-1]
MD32 | Amelie Smejkalova (CU) def. No. 49 Katie Codd (DU), 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2
MD32 | Sophia Hatton (CU) def. No. 108 Gabriella Broadfoot (NCSU), 6-2, 6-4

Doubles:
MD32 | Amelie Smejkalova & Sophia Hatton (CU) def. Claudia Sanchez Quesada (PC), 8-3
MD32 | Ava Krug & Eleana Yu (Duke) def. Romana Cisovska & Gaia Parravicini (CU), 8-2

Saturday, Oct. 19 Draws:
Singles:
MD16 | Mia Slama (NCSU) def.  No. 58 Ria Bhakta (CU), 6-3, 6-4
MD16 | Kaitlyn Carnicella (UofSC) def. Amelie Smejkalova (CU), 6-4, 7-5
MD16 | No. 26 Carson Tanguilig (UNC) def. Sophia Hatton (CU), 6-0, 6-2

Doubles:
MD16 |  Gabriella Broadfoot & Maddy Zampardo (NCSU) def. Amelie Smejkalova & Sophia Hatton (CU), 8-4