Women's tennis fierce on day one of the Pac-10 Championships

he Arizona State Women's Tennis team showed their strength of heart on Thursday as they battled it out against the best of the Pac at the 2009 Pac-10 Championships at Ojai Valley Athletic Club.

After a short weather delay, the team came out strong in Round One of Championship Singles play, as senior Laila Abdala swiftly put away Oregon's Madelie van Rensburg 6-1, 6-1 to advance. Michelle Brycki followed suit, battling it out for a win over USC's Gabriella Niculescu 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Nadia Abdala faced off against USC's Alison Ramos, but was unable to overcome the Trojan, ultimately falling 7-5, 6-2. Sophomore Kelcy McKenna bravely took on Arizona's Natasha Marks, but was defeated by the Wildcat contender 6-2, 6-4.

The second round, however, would not be as successful for the Sun Devil team. Laila Abdala played with heart and took her first set against Stanford's Jessica Nguyen 6-7, but would be unable to best the Cardinal player, falling 7-6, 6-3. While freshman Michelle Brycki kept a close eye on Cal's Marina Cossou, she was ultimately defeated in a 6-3, 6-4 decision.

Round One of Invitational Singles play started off rocky for the Devils as Ali Van Horne was unable to get the better of Oregon's Siobhan Cavan, despite a monumental effort, falling 6-3, 6-1. Sianna Simmons quickly recovered for the Sun Devils, blowing the Ducks Trudie du Toit out of the water 6-0, 7-5.

In Round Two, Sianna Simmons was unable to repeat her winning performance, falling to UCLA's Stephanie Wetmore 6-2, 6-2. Ashlee Brown also found her opponent difficult to overcome, dropping her match against Washington State's Aleksandra Malovic 6-3, 6-3.

The Devils now move on to the singles consolation bracket and doubles play.

Exciting Pac-10 Tournament action continues tomorrow at the Ojai Valley Athletic Club and continues through Sunday. Results are available at www.ojaitourney.org and www.pac10.org

Pac-10 Women's Championship Singles

First Round:

Alison Ramos (USC) def. Nadia Abdala (ASU), 7-5, 6-2

Laila Abdala (ASU) def. Madelie van Rensburg (ORE), 6-1, 6-1

Michelle Brycki (ASU) def. Gabriela Niculescu (USC), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2

Natasha Marks (ARIZ) def. Kelcy McKenna (ASU), 6-2, 6-4

Second Round:

Jessica Nguyen (STAN) def. Laila Abdala (ASU), 6-7, 7-6, 6-3

Marina Cossou (CAL) def. Michelle Brycki (ASU), 6-3, 6-4

Pac-10 Women's Invitational Singles

First Round:

Sianna Simmons (ASU) def. Trudie du Toit (ORE), 6-0, 7-5

Siobhan Cavan (ORE) def. Ali Van Horne (ASU), 6-3, 6-1

Ashlee Brown (ASU), Bye

Second Round:

Stephanie Wetmore (UCLA) def. Sianna Simmons (ASU), 6-2, 6-2

Aleksandra Malovic (WSU) def. Ashlee Brown (ASU), 6-3, 6-3