Lady'Backs one win away from qualifying

LOS ANGELES – Aurelija Miseviciute led the charge at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships pre-qualifier on Saturday as Arkansas hopes to have two more singles players and one more doubles duo qualifying for the main draw next weekend.

“This was definitely the best day we have had on a team level all fall,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “We got good quality victories, and that’s a big statement at a big tournament like this.”

The junior from Lithuania swarmed through the first two rounds of the pre qualifier setting up a match Sunday with Noelle Hickey of Georgia Tech which will determine qualifiers for the tournament beginning Oct. 3rd.

Miseviciute’s first win was over 93rd-ranked Dunja Antunovic of DePaul ,6-0, 6-2. Advancing to the second round, Miseviciute went on to defeat Caren Seenauth of Miami, 6-0, 6-3.

Freshman Delia Desmaschin had the hardest fight to reach as Sunday with she two come-from-behind wins on Saturday.

“It was the best day for a freshman player I have ever seen,” said Hegarty of Demaschin’s play.

Her first match found her faced against Alexis Dorr of Iowa who managed a 7-5 lead until Demaschin stormed back to win, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. In her second match Demaschin was down to the No. 115 ranked singles player, Monice Wiesner of San Diego, 3-6, before she won the second set, 6-2, and the third, 7-5. Demaschin is set to face off against Elizabeth Poltkin of Duke, who is ranked 102nd nationally.

In doubles action, the junior duo of Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder toppled Eastern Michigan’s Vanessa Frankowski and Sandra Wikstrom, 8-2. Miseviciute and Kaluder are glancing at a Sunday match with Stephanie Davidson and Caroline Larsson of Texas. In order to advance to the tournament, doubles must win two matches on Sunday.

The lone loss by the Lady’Backs came to junior Nanar Airapetian at the hands of UCLA’s Andrea Remynse, 5-7, 3-6. Although Airapetian lost, head coach Michael Hegarty was still proud of Airapetian’s effort.

“Nanar did a great job in her match. Although the result was a loss, I am very proud of the excellent effort she gave.”

To find out more on the results of the pre qualifier of the ITA Championships stay tuned to LADYBACKS.com.