Three Razorback Doubles Pairs Advance to Round of 16 at ITA Central Region Championships

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Arkansas women’s tennis team continued play today at the ITA Central Region Championships with three doubles pairs advancing to the Round of 16 while Anet Koskel and Katie Ferguson each collected wins in singles action.

The Razorbacks opened the third day of competition with three doubles teams taking the court in the Round of 32. The tandem of No. 51 Koskel and Grace O’Donnell escaped past Wichita State’s Kudryavtseva/Wang, 8-7 (3), to clinch their spot in the next round. Koskel and O’Donnell will match up against Adams/Kubo (Kansas) in the Round of 16 tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The duo of No. 71 Olga Bienzobas and Carolina Gomez Alonso claimed their berth in the Round of 16 after another dominating victory, taking down Cardona/Marshman (UMKC) 8-2. Bienzobas and Gomez Alonso advance to play Tulsa’s Manyoma Velasquez/Naranjo Martinez tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The freshmen pairing of Lilitha Ndungane and Katarina Pavlechova advanced to the Round of 16 after cruising past Kranholdt/Vishwase (Iowa), 8-3. Ndungane and Pavlechova move on to face Oklahoma’s Garcia Ruiz/Gilheany tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The Hogs had two players compete in the Round of 32 of the singles main draw along with four others participating in the consolation and D draws. Bienzobas fell in her second round match to Manyoma Velasquez (Tulsa) in straight sets while No. 18 Gomez Alonso’s run came to an end after withdrawing from her match against Canete (Missouri).

After falling in the Round of 64 of the main draw yesterday, Koskel responded with two wins in the consolation draw on Friday. Koskel picked up a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Duran (Saint Louis) in her opening match before holding off Liepert (Minnesota) in three sets, 7-5, 5-7, 10-8. Koskel now has won six matches at the ITA Central Region Championships (four singles, two doubles).

Pavlechova opened the consolation draw with a matchup against Aiva Schmitz (Minnesota). Schmitz took the first set 6-4 before Pavlechova responded with a 7-6 (4) victory in the second set. In the final set, Schmitz pulled away to secure the match after a 10-4 win in the tiebreak.

Ferguson followed up her victory in the singles C draw yesterday with her third win of the event after besting Nebraska’s Rossini in three sets in the singles D draw. Ndungane dropped her only singles match of the day in the D draw to Ma (Minnesota), 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-10.

Day Three Results
Singles Main Draw
R32: Canete (Missouri) def. No. 18 Gomez Alonso (Arkansas), Withdraw
R32: Manyoma Velasquez (Tulsa) def. Bienzobas (Arkansas), 7-5, 6-4

Singles Consolation Draw
C-R32: Koskel (Arkansas) def. Duran (Saint Louis), 6-2, 6-3
C-R32: Schmitz (Minnesota) def. Pavlechova (Arkansas), 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-4
C-R16: Koskel (Arkansas) def. Liepert (Minnesota), 7-5, 5-7, 10-8

Singles D Draw
R64: Ferguson (Arkansas) def. Rossini (Nebraska), 7-5, 0-6, 11-9
R64: Ma (Minnesota) def. Ndungane (Arkansas), 6-7 (4), 7-5, 10-7

Doubles Main Draw
R32: No. 51 Koskel/O’Donnell (Arkansas) def. Kudryavtseva/Wang (Wichita St.), 8-7 (3)
R32: No. 71 Bienzobas/Gomez Alonso (Arkansas) def. Cardona/Marshman (UMKC), 8-2
R32: Ndungane/Pavlechova (Arkansas) def. Kranholdt/Vishwase (Iowa), 8-3