MORAGA, Calif.—The Gonzaga University women's tennis team continued its fall season Friday, playing the first rounds of the SMC Invite at the Korth Tennis Complex in Moraga, Calif.
In the Red Singles bracket, the top singles flight, Samantha Polayes advanced to the Round of 16 with a two-set win over UC Davis' 6-4, 7-6(5). Alex Bourguignon also played in the top fight, but her lone set victory wasn't enough as she fell 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-4 to Pacific's Hana Ritterova.
In the middle singles bracket, White Singles, Kylie Peek advanced with a strong 6-0, 6-2 win over Samantha Martino, also of UC Davis. Franziska Koehler also competed in that bracket, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Genevieve McCloskey of San Francisco.
"We did a good job of rebounding during singles play," said Gonzaga women's tennis head coach D.J. Gurule. "Sam didn't necessarily play her best but did a fantastic job of competing for every point and her perseverance definitely paid off. Alex did a great job of rebounding from a flat second set but unfortunately she came up a little short. I was very impressed with Kylie's play today. She did not play doubles and was idle for most of the day. She played a complete match and was never flat."
The Zags kicked off the tournament in doubles play with both squads playing in the White Doubles bracket. Polayes teamed with Katie Edwards, but the pair fell to Washington's Julija Lukac and Riko Shimizu 8-3. Bourguignon and Koehler also squared off against a pair of Huskies, and they also lost, falling 8-4 to Angela Chen and Grace Ysidora, the bracket's second seed.
In consolation play, Bourguignon and Koehler came out victorious, taking down a mixed team of Pacific's Gergana Boncheva and Santa Clara's Danelle Zinn 8-3. Polayes and Edwards also played a tougher match, taking on the Broncos' Deplhin Rouvillois and Zeina El Tawil. The Zag duo forced a tiebreaker but lost in the end, 8-7 (5).
"We are excited to get some more matches in tomorrow and fell that every time we compete we are getting better," Gurule.
The Zags continue the SMC Invite Saturday, Oct. 25, again in Moraga, Calif.
