Gonzaga University
Bulldog Invite Day 3
Five Zags Claim Bracket Titles to End Bulldog Invite
11/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Bulldog Invite Final Results | Day Three Photo Gallery
SPOKANE, Wash.-It was another successful singles session for Gonzaga University's women's tennis team Sunday as the Bulldogs claimed five singles flights at the Bulldog Invite inside The Stevens Center.
The Zags won five of the tournament's six singles brackets, and every single one for which they competed. Sophomore Nevada Apollo took her first career bracket by winning the B Singles flight. She squared off against Idaho's Maria Tavares in the final, downing the Vandal 6-2, 6-3. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native now has six wins during the tournament season,
Junior Alex Bourguignon also picked up a finals victory, prevailing in a hard-fought three-setter. She squared off against Lucia Badillos from Idaho and won the first set 6-3. Badillos countered at 2-6 in the second and took a lead in the deciding frame at 0-3. Bourguignon rallied though, picking up three key breaks to complete the 6-4 come-from-behind set victory.
In the C Singles flight, Haruna Tsuruta claimed her second bracket of the fall with a two-set win over Tracy Dong of Portland State. The freshman won the first set by a break at 6-4, and she took the second at 6-2 to clinch the win. Another newcomer claimed a flight today when Katie Day took the F Singles title. She beat the Vandals' Claire Yang 6-4, 6-3 for the fifth win of her young career.
Gonzaga's fifth bracket victory came in flight E, where Domonique Garley and Graciela Rosas faced off for the title. Garley came away with the 6-4, 6-1 victory in the battle of the Bulldogs.
Also playing a singles match Sunday, Sophie Whittle took third place in the top singles bracket, beating Janaya Smith of Eastern Washington 6-2, 6-4. Playing for third in the C flight, Kate Ketels beat UI's Ana Batiri 7-5, 6-4 as well.
In doubles play, two pairs competed for bracket finals but lost to competition from Idaho. In the B flight, Apollo and Garley lost to Batiri and Tavares while Bourguignon and Rosas fell to Yang and Shion Watabe.
Elsewhere in doubles play, Whittle and Ketels took third place of the A bracket with a 6-1 win, and the team of Day/Tsuruta lost 6-4 in the C Consolation final.
"This tournament has been incredible," said Natalie Pluskota, Gonzaga assistant coach. "The most important thing is instilling our system and getting them to believe in themselves, and this weekend was a prime example of that. We had six girls in the finals; it doesn't get better than that by any means. It just proves that what we're doing here is working."
Gonzaga will remain at home for its final tournament of the year, the Gonzaga Invitational. That three-day contest will begin on Friday, Nov. 11 and run through Sunday, Nov. 13, again at The Stevens Center.
Singles Main - Finals
Nevada Apollo (Gonzaga) def. Maria Tavares (Idaho) 6-2, 6-3
Haruna Tsuruta (Gonzaga) def. Tracy Dong (Portland State) 6-4, 6-2
Alex Bourguignon (Gonzaga) def. Lucia Badillos (Idaho) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Domonique Garley (Gonzaga) def. Graciela Rosas (Gonzaga) 6-4, 6-1
Katie Day (Gonzaga) def. Claire Yang (Idaho) 6-4, 6-3
Singles - A Bracket Third Place
Sophie Whittle (Gonzaga) def. Janaya Smith (Eastern Washington) 6-2, 6-4
Singles - C Bracket Third Place
Kate Ketels (Gonzaga) def. Ana Batiri (Idaho) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles Main - Finals
Ana Batiri/Maria Tavares (Idaho) def. Nevada Apollo/Domonique Garley (Gonzaga) 6-4
Claire Yang/Shion Watabe (Idaho) def. Alex Bourguignon/Graciela Rosas (Gonzaga) 6-2
Doubles - A Bracket Third Place
Sophie Whittle/Kate Ketels (Gonzaga) def. Michelle Lui/Madison Maloney (Seattle U) 6-1
Doubles - C Bracket Consolation Final
Siena Peri/Ashley Knecht (Portland State) def. Katie Day/Haruna Tsuruta (Gonzaga) 6-4
