Women's tennis successful at Wilson/ITA Regional Championship
The Arizona State women's tennis team opened to a superb start at the Wilson/ITA Regional Challenge held in San Diego, Calif. Three singles players and two doubles teams advanced to the next round.
After a bye in the first round, top seeded Kelcy McKenna held on to move on to the Round of 32. Despite dropping her first set 2-6, McKenna rallied to defeat Jaklin Alawi of Long Beach State 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Micaela Hein, seeded eighth, also had a first round bye. Hein breezed past UC Irvine's Brooke Barlett, winning 6-0, 6-1.
Sophomore Michelle Brycki showed great promise as she knocked two opponents out of the main bracket. Brycki defeated Jennifer Goldman of USC in the first round 6-1, 6-0. She nearly mirrored that performance in the Round of 64 as she defeated Emma Cioffi of San Diego State 6-0, 6-1.
Ashlee Brown picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win in her first match over Anna Jeczmionka of Long Beach State but fell in the second round to Arianna Colffer of Pepperdine 6-4, 6-1. Sianna Simmons suffered a hard-fought, tough loss to Whitney Paluch of Cal State Northridge in the first round, dropping her match 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Both Brown and Simmons will compete in the consolation bracket.
"Overall it was a good day in singles for us," said 26th year head coach Sheila McInerney. "Kelcy didn't play her best but was able to gut out a win and Sianna just got a bit unlucky in her match."
Doubles proved to be successful as both teams won their matches of the day. With both team earning a bye in the first round, the duo of McKenna and Simmons defeated Nafarrete and Tadaki of Hawaii 8-4. Brown and Hein won their match over Ojeda and Onaga of UCSB 8-4 as well.
"Tomorrow is going to be a tough day," said McInerney. "We have a lot of great matches lined up tomorrow."
The Sun Devils will continue play through Monday.
First Round Singles
Kelcy McKenna bye
Micaela Hein bye
Michelle Brycki (ASU) def. Jennifer Goldman (USC) 6-1, 6-0
Ashlee Brown (ASU) def. Anna Jeczmionka (LBS) 6-1, 6-0
Whitney Paluch (CSUN) def. Sianna Simmons (ASU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
Second Round Singles
Kelcy McKenna (ASU) def. Jaklin Alawi (LBS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Micaela Hein (ASU) def. Brooke Bartlett (UCI) 6-0, 6-1
Michelle Brycki (ASU) def. Emma Cioffi (SDSU) 6-0, 6-1
Arianna Colffer (Pep) def. Ashlee Brown (ASU) 6-4, 6-1
McKenna/Simmons (ASU) def. Nafarrete/Tadaki (Hawaii) 8-4
Brown/Hein (ASU) def. Ojeda/Onaga (UCSB) 8-4