Tulane University
ITA Southern Regional
Karagoz/Katz Highlight Tulane ITA Regional Play
Oct 13, 2014 | Women's Tennis
Oct. 13, 2014
Results | Printable Results | Bracket
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Over the past four days, Tulane women's tennis players have battled it out at the Alabama Tennis Stadium and Alabama Rec courts, representing the Green Wave at the ITA Southern Regional. Freshman Naz Karagoz and junior Jacqui Katz shone bright, reaching the main draw Round of 16 and consolation semifinals, respectively.
"Naz making it to the Round of 16 in one of the country's toughest regionals speaks volumes about what her skill set contains," said Tulane head coach Terri Sisk. "She is playing very solid tennis and just needs to trust herself more and not put so much pressure on herself.
Jacqui had a tough start at the tournament mentally but rebounded beautifully to take down two seeds en route to the semifinals. She played some of the best tennis I've seen her play."
In just her second collegiate event and first major tournament, Karagoz produced the best showing in the main draw, picking up three victories to reach the Round of 16. On Friday, the Istanbul, Turkey native earned a 6-0, 6-3 straight set win over Louisiana Monroe's Amy Olivier before clinching a tight three setter 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) against No. 9-16 seeded Stephanie Barnett of Nicholls State.
Next, Karagoz took on Northwestern State's Tatiana Larina, in which the freshman battled out another three-set victory, dropping the first set 6-3, before rallying with a 6-4, 6-2 in the next two sets to clinch.
Karagoz then tried to upset fourth-seeded and 52nd ranked Danielle Spielmann of Alabama. The freshman came out firing, claiming the first set 7-6(6). However, Spielmann would quickly gain the advantage back, taking the next two sets 6-2, 6-1.
"She pushed the No. 4 seed, who played No. 2 singles on the No. 3 team in the country, to three sets, which is just a small indicator of what she's capable of," added Sisk. "She is definitely going to have an incredible four years here."
Jacqui Katz displayed true bounce back spirit. After losing her first contest 6-3, 6-2, to South Alabama's Laura Valkova in the main draw, Katz retaliated with three consecutive victories in the consolation bracket, reaching the semifinals. After a first round bye and back-to-back straight-set wins, Katz pulled out a 7-5, 6-7(5), 10-8 nailbiter against LSU's Noel Scott in the quarterfinals.
Then, on Monday morning, Mississippi State's Naomi Tran needed to go deep into a third set super tiebreaker to bring Katz's tournament run to a close, edging out the junior 4-6, 7-5, 10-8.
"She used the perfect combinations of offense and defense when she needed to, but more importantly, battled mentally with two very tough opponents," stated Sisk on Katz. "It was fun for me to watch her actually grow and improve at this tournament and for her to realize that she can compete with anyone in the country."
Meredith Maltby and Ipek Birol also picked up a main draw singles victory each. Maltby downed Jackson State's Anastasia Zviahintseva 6-2, 7-5, as Birol bested Carolin Drescher of Southern Miss, 6-2, 6-4.
Also to note, freshman Vanessa Nommensen earned her first singles collegiate victory this past Saturday via the consolation draw. Squaring off with Mississippi State's Alex Corder, Nommensen cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win.
In doubles, both the No. 9-16 seeded team of Birol/Nicky Stracar and the duo of Katz/Sade Atkinson won their opening round matches on Friday, but fell short in their respective bids to reach the Round of 16.
After a 8-6 win over Samford's Wood/Moolman, Birol/Stracar fell 8-1 to LSU's Taylor/Holloway. The Tulane duo are now 4-2 in doubles this fall. Then in Sade Atkinson's Green Wave debut, the freshman along with Katz, knocked Nicholls State's Skopac/Brock 8-6 before bowing out 8-2 to eighth-seeded Mueller/Pfeifler of Auburn.
"Overall this was yet another great tournament for us," concluded Sisk. "Day two-four we really shined and showed what we are capable of. This is a great start to a great year ahead."
Complete Tulane Results
Singles Main Draw
1st Round
Naz Karagoz (TUL) def. Amy Olivier (ULM), 6-0, 6-3
Meredith Maltby (TUL) def. Anastasia Zviahintseva (JSU), 6-2, 7-5
Jacqui Katz (TUL), bye
Vanessa Nommensen (TUL), bye
Nicky Stracar (TUL), bye
Ipek Birol (TUL), bye
Marta Sramkova (LaT) def. Kyla Klier (TUL), 6-1, 6-1
2nd Round
Naz Karagoz (TUL) def. No. 9-16 Stephanie Barnett (NSU), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5)
Ipek Birol (TUL) def. Carolin Drescher (USM), 6-2, 6-4
Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. Vanessa Nommensen (TUL), 0-6, 6-4, 6-0
No. 9-16 Mai El Kamash (UM) def. Meredith Maltby (TUL), 6-3, 6-2
No. 25-32 Paula de Man (AU) advances over Nicky Stracar (TUL) via withdraw
No. 25-32 Laura Valkova (USA) def. Jacqui Katz (TUL), 6-3, 6-2
3rd Round
Naz Karagoz (TUL) def. Tatiana Larina (NWS), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Erin Routliffe (UA) def. Ipek Birol (TUL), 6-2, 6-3
Round of 16
No. 4 Danielle Spielmann (UA) def. Naz Karagoz (TUL), 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-1
Singles Consolation Draw
1st Round
Vanessa Nommensen (TUL) def. Alex Corder (MSU), 6-4, 6-2
Kyla Klier (TUL) def. Rachel Daniell (UAB), 4-6, 6-2, 10-3
Jacqui Katz (TUL), bye
Zoe Gaber (TUL), bye
Emily Dvorak (TUL) bye
2nd Round
Jacqui Katz (TUL) def. Daria Butorina (JSU), 6-1, 6-1
Vanessa Nommensen (TUL) advances over Olivia Nguyen (JSU) due to injury
Elaine Simon (UAB) def. Emily Dvorak (TUL), 6-4, 7-5
Naomi Tran (MSU) def. Zoe Gaber (TUL), 6-0, 6-0
Yasmeen Ebada (SAM) def. Kyla Klier (TUL), 7-6, 4-7, 6-3
Round of 16
Jacqui Katz (TUL) def. Trang Huynh (TROY), 6-3, 6-4
Kateryna Piatakova (NWS) def. Vanessa Nommensen (TUL), 6-7(3), 6-2, 11-9
Quarterfinals
Jacqui Katz (TUL) def. Noel Scott (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
Semifinals
Naomi Tran (MSU) def. Jacqui Katz (TUL), 4-6, 7-5, 10-8
Singles Draw B
Laura Matuskova (USA) def. Zoe Gaber (TUL), 6-0, 6-1
Mary Katherine Lewis (AU) def. Emily Dvorak (TUL), 7-9, 6-2, 10-6
Doubles Main Draw
1st Round
No. 9-16 Birol/Stracar (TUL) def. Wood/Moolman (SAM), 8-6
Atkinson/Katz (TUL) def. Skopac/Brock (NSU), 8-6
Faught/Baccarini (UAB) def. Gaber/Maltby (TUL), 8-2
Larina/Krutova (NWS) def. Nommensen/Dvorak, 8-2
2nd Round
Taylor/Holloway (LSU) def. No. 9-16 Birol/Stracar (TUL), 8-1
No. 8 Mueller/Pfeifler (AU) def. Atkinson/Katz (TUL), 8-2
Players Mentioned
