Smekodub, Valdes Reach Round Of 16 In Philadelphia
Oct 2, 2003 | Women's Tennis
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. - - Tulane women's tennis players Julie Smekodub and Erika Valdes each reached the Round of 16 during the first day of the Cissie Leary Invitational at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday.
Smekodub, ranked 23rd in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls and seeded third in the main draw, earned a bye in the first round before posting a 6-4, 6-0 win over Ohio State's Kristin Messmer in the second round. Smekodub is the event's defending champion.
Valdes, ranked 74th by the ITA and seeded seventh, also had a first-round bye before cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ohio State's Sonia Ruzimovsky.
Tulane freshman Darya Ivanov, who was a 9-16 alphabetical seed, opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Penn's Felicia Curcuru before dropping a 6-0, 6-4 decision to Princeton's Alison Hashall.
In doubles action, the Tulane team of Smekodub and Valdes, ranked 19th in the ITA preseason poll and seeded second in the Leary Invitational, rolled to an 8-3 win over Ohio State's team of Vincent and Messmer to reach the quarterfinals.
Action continues on Saturday, with the finals of both the singles and doubles events being held on Sunday.
