Two Women's Tennis Players Advace At ITA Southwest Regional
Oct 19, 2003 | Women's Tennis
Oct. 19, 2003
FORT WORTH, Texas - - Sophomore Julie Smekodub and junior Maria Ivanov each advance to the semifinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Southwest Regional Championship, held at TCU's Friedman Tennis Center on Sunday.
In addition, the Green Wave team of Smekodub and Darya Ivanov advanced to the semifinals of the doubles competition on Sunday as well.
Smekodub, the tournament's top seed and defending champ, won a pair of matches on Sunday to reach the semifinals. She started the day with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Baylor's Darya Potapova in the Round of 16 before cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Rice's Lauren Archer in the quarterfinals.
Maria Ivanov also cruised in her first match, posting a 6-3, 6-0 win over TCU's Saber Pierce in the Round of 16 before fighting back from a set down with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over Rice's Tracie Chong in the quarterfinals.
Smekodub and Ivanova will face each other in the semifinals, guaranteeing a Tulane player a spot in the finals for the second straight season. Ivanov is the only unseeded player to earn a spot in Monday's semifinal.
In doubles action, Smekodub and Darya Ivanov, Maria's younger sister, posted an 8-5 win over the Texas A&M duo of Spence and Walker in the Round of 8 and will face the No. 3 seeded team of Roland and Viera (Texas A&M) in the semifinals.
Smekodub won the ITA Southwest Region singles title last season and teamed with Jenny Kuhn to win the doubles crown as well. The duo would go on to win the ITA National Indoor Doubles championship last fall.
Action continues at the Southwest Regional on Monday.
