SAN ANTONIO, Texas & PULLMAN, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's tennis team saw a lot of positive results as it closed out the second day at both the University of Texas - San Antonio Roadrunners Fall Tournament and the Washington State University Cougar Classic Saturday.
In San Antonio, freshmen Kylie Peek and Katie Edwards started the day with an 8-3 win to capture the Doubles Flight 1 back draw title but their highlight of the day was in singles play. In the Singles Flight 2 semifinals, Edwards picked up a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Kavya Menon of the Roadrunners while on the other side of the bracket, Peek defeated Gabriela Rojas from Texas State University 6-2, 6-4 to set up an all-Gonzaga finals match Sunday. When the two Bulldogs meet, one will be the first freshman to win a tournament since Rika Mehndiratta captured the Washington State University Cougar Classic singles title in 2007.
"Katie played an outstanding match and Kylie beat a tough player from Texas State, it will be difficult for them to play each other tomorrow but I'm glad it is in the finals," Bulldogs head coach D.J. Gurule said.
The doubles teams of senior Kristina Zauere and redshirt junior Prue Teitzel and senior Sophie Lantta and freshman Alexandra Tallas were slated to face each other in the Doubles Flight 2 finals but instead faced the semifinal losers from the back draw. Both Bulldogs teams were victorious in their matches, Zauere and Teitzel won by a score of 8-6, Lantta and Tallas 8-3.
Lantta, who hails from nearby Austin, Texas, also produced a victory in singles play, defeating Reeta Raty of the University of Texas - Pan American 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the Singles Flight 4 finals Sunday.
"Sophie played a solid match today," Gurule said. "It is great to see her make it to the finals of a tournament so close to her hometown."
Coming off a tough loss in the main draw of the Singles Flight 1 Friday, Teitzel won 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the championship round in the back draw, which will be played Sunday.
"Prue played solid today and I was glad she bounced back from her tough loss yesterday," Gurule said.
Tallas had a battle on the other side of the Singles Flight 4 bracket. She lost the first set 1-6 but bounced back to win the second 6-2 to force a tiebreaker. The freshman came up short as her opponent from UTEP won the deciding set 6-3.
Zauere played a tough match in the semifinals of the Singles Flight 3. Gabriela Vasquez of UTEP won the first set 6-1 and Zauere evened the score with a 6-4 second-set victory. The tiebreaker was close but Vazquez defeated the Bulldogs co-captain 7-5.
"I was happy to see Kristina and Alexandra fight back from dropping their first sets to force deciding sets but unfortunately they both came up a bit short," Gurule said.
Junior Britta Stime came down with a head cold prior to today's tournament but still competed in the Singles Flight 5. She won her first match 6-4, 6-0 but played a tough match later in the day. After losing the first set 7-5, Stime won the second 6-0 but her opponent, Katie Ottenbreit of the Roadrunners, won the tiebreaker 1-0 (10-5).
Gurule was proud of Stime's efforts despite playing with a fever.
"I was amazed at her fortitude and determination. She is a true competitor. I'm very proud of her," Gurule said."
In Pullman, sophomores Kelly Humphrey, Hanley Caras and freshman Sandy Dennett each picked up a victory in the singles consolation quarterfinals. In the Singles Flight 3, Humphrey won by a score of 6-4, 6-1, Dennett delivered a 6-2, 6-3 victory and Caras won 6-3, 6-2 in the Singles Flight 4.
Junior Taurie Bjerken suffered a 6-2, 6-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the Singles Flight 1 and in the back draw she fought but lost a 6-3, 6-2 decision to an opponent out of the University of Montana. Also in the same back draw, freshman Hailee Gopinath also lost her match 6-3, 6-0 to her opponent from Eastern Washington University.
Coming off a victory in the opening round of the Singles Flight 2 back draw Friday, senior Madeline Parker dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision in the quarterfinals.
Gurule is proud of his team's performance as the day came to an end.
"I was really impressed with our play today. We were focused and played some tough matches," Gurule said.
The tournaments conclude Sunday.
