Frogs Impressive To Begin Riviera/ITA All-American Invite
10/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 3, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The TCU women's tennis team advanced in singles and double in the opening day of action at the 2009 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Courts on the campus of UCLA.
"It was a great effort today," TCU head coach Jefferson Hammond said. "In the fall, it's very important that we implement the things that we are working on in practice so that we can continue to improve. I feel that we are really doing that, which makes the fall very productive, regardless of results."
In singles prequalifying, sophomore Kayla Duncan began her day with a dominating straight-set victory over No. 87 Alexandria Walters from Pepperdine, 6-1, 6-0. Duncan answered the call after falling in straight-sets to Walters during the 2009 spring season. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native would follow that performance with a tough battle over a former No. 1 Texas junior player in Paloma Escobedo from Ohio State. After dropping the opening set, Duncan pulled it together to win the match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Duncan will take on Brittany Wowchuk from Northwestern Sunday.
Also in singles action, senior Megan Alexander advanced into the third round of prequalifying, taking down Elizabeth Plotkin from Duke, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1, and Courtney Byron from UC Irvine, 6-1, 6-1. Alexander, listed at No. 111 in the ITA preseason singles rankings, will return Sunday to face another Anteater, Stephanie Hammel.
In doubles play, the duo of Alexander and junior Maria Babanova took care of their opening match, defeating the team of Brittany Blalock and Steffi Wong, 8-5. The pair will take on Texas A&M's tandem of Stephanie Davidson and Nazari Urbina at 9 a.m. PT.
Duncan and junior Katariina Tuohimaa dropped their chance to advance into the qualifying stage, falling in a tough match to Illinois' pairing of Rachael White and Leigh Finnegan, 8-6. The Frogs' found themselves down 5-1 early, but battled back to bring the match to a 6-6 tie before dropping the final two games.
2009 RIVIERA/ITA ALL AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - DAY ONE RESULTS
Los Angeles, Calif. | Oct. 3, 2009
Singles Prequalifying Draw (Round of 32 - Prequalifying)
No. 111 Megan Alexander (TCU) def. Elizabeth Plotkin (Duke), 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1
Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. No. 87 Alexandria Walters (Pepperdine), 6-1, 6-0
Singles Prequalifying Draw (Round of 16 - Prequalifying)
No. 111 Megan Alexander (TCU) def. Courtney Byron (UC Irvine), 6-1, 6-1
Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Paloma Escobedo (Ohio State), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Prequalifying Draw (Round of 32 - Prequalifying)
Alexander/Babanova (TCU) def. Blalock/Wong (Cal Poly), 8-5
Finnegan/White (Illinois) def. Duncan/Tuohimaa (TCU), 8-6
