Tournament Draws and Results

PALO ALTO, Calif.--The Gonzaga University women's tennis team saw a bit of program history Saturday when Sophie Whittle twice reached the Round of 16 at the ITA Northwest Regionals, becoming the first Bulldog to venture that far in the tournament since at least 2001.

In the morning, Whittle and doubles partner Samantha Polayes advanced to the Round of 16 in the doubles competition, taking on Pacific's duo of Yuki Asami and Christina Saenz de Buruaga. The two Bulldogs continued their strong pairs play, beating the Tiger team 8-3 to become the deepest-advancing GU pair at Regionals in the new millennium. They'll face the fifth-seeded team of Melissa Lord and Kimberly Yee in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

A few hours later, Whittle prevailed in her Round of 32 singles matchup, taking down Santa Clara's Chelby Cooke in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. The win moved her into the Round of 16, where her run ended after a three-set defeat at the hands of Karla Popovic of California. Despite being bounced from the tournament, the Nipomo, Calif., native still became the first Bulldog to reach the Round of 16 individually since 2001 as well.

Sophomore Alex Bourguignon also entered the day still active in two main brackets, but two defeats moved her into consolation play for the rest of the tournament. In doubles, Bourguignon and freshman Nevada Apollo took three games off Fresno State's sister duo of Sophie and Anneka Watts but fell 8-3 in the match. During singles play, Bourguignon took on Elianne Douglass-Miron of Washington, winning five games total in a two-set defeat.

Both Apollo and Polayes took part in consolation singles play Saturday. Apollo squared off against UW's Miki Kobayashi, ceding only three total games in the 6-3, 6-0 win. Polayes, meanwhile, lost to Sacramento State's Ana Loaiza. The Morgan Hill, Calif., native fell in the first set 6-2 but pushed hard in the second before getting edged 7-5.

"The work we have been putting in on the practice court is really paying off," said Gonzaga assistant coach Megan Falcon. "The girls are competing well and are looking forward to each opportunity they have. It's been a great experience so far for our team."

The Zags will continue play at the ITA Northwest Regionals Sunday, Oct. 25, again at Taube Family Tennis Stadium in Palo Alto. Polayes and Whittle's main draw doubles match will begin at 10:00 a.m., with singles to follow.

Doubles -- Round of 32

Polayes/Whittle (Gonzaga) def. Asami/Saenz de Buruaga (Pacific) 8-3

Watts/Watts (Fresno State) def. Bourguignon/Apollo (Gonzaga) 8-3

Singles -- Round of 32

Sophie Whittle (Gonzaga) def. Chelby Cooke (Santa Clara) 6-4, 6-3

Elianne Douglas-Miron (Washington) def. Alex Bourguignon (Gonzaga) 6-2, 6-3

Singles -- Round of 16

Karla Popovic (California) def. Sophie Whittle (Gonzaga) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1

Singles -- Consolation

Nevada Apollo (Gonzaga) def. Miki Kobayashi (Washington) 6-3, 6-0

Ana Loaiza (Sacramento State) def. Samantha Polayes (Gonzaga) 6-2, 7-5