Women’s Tennis Trio Post Strong Showings at Rice Fall Invite

Sunday, September 25

Houston

Tulane University

Rice Fall Invite

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Women’s Tennis Trio Post Strong Showings at Rice Fall Invite

Sep 25, 2016 | Women's Tennis

Sisti & Atkinson reach finals of singles draws

HOUSTON – The Tulane women's tennis trio of junior Sade Atkinson, sophomore Sofia Kurtz and freshman Christina Sisti, all made the most of their time in Houston this weekend, posting strong showings at the Rice Fall Invite. Sisti and Atkinson each made the championship match of their respective singles draws, while Kurtz made the consolation singles final of her draw. In doubles, Sisti and Kurtz teamed together and earned a third place showing in the Flight 2A draw.

"I'm happy with this weekends matches," Tulane head coach Terri Sisk stated. "We didn't get the results we wanted on the final day of the tournament but two second place finishes definitely isn't a bad start to our fall season, especially with such a decent field of teams."

Sisti made quite the impactful Green Wave debut this weekend, winning two straight to reach the final of the Flight 3B Draw. After besting fellow American Athletic Conference foe Charline Anselmo of SMU in the semis, 6-2, 6-2, Sisti waged a three-set battle with Houston's Tsveta Dimitrova, but succumbed late via a 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, score.

"I'm incredibly impressed with our new freshman Christina Sisti," Sisk explained. "She is a competitor in every sense of the word. She really came out strong with her collegiate debut and almost won her very first collegiate tournament. She had match point but didn't convert and in her third set she just became tight and let it slip away but she definitely showed incredible poise and is going to be quite the force to deal with in the spring."

Competing in her second straight weekend tournament, Atkinson continued to impress in the singles front, knocking off competitors from Sam Houston State and Texas State to reach the finals of the Flight 4A Draw. There, Denver's Arisha Ladhani bested Atkinson, 7-5, 6-2.

"I was also very happy for Sade making it to the finals as well," Sisk added. "Historically, Sade has only played doubles so to see this turn around on the singles court just reiterates what I've always known about her. She's a great competitor and only needs more match play to convert hers as well."

After suffering a first round straight set defeat, Kurtz bounced back with a three-set win over Southern Miss' Rikeetha Perreira. Yet, in the consolation final, it was Sam Houston State's Carrie Casev who emerged victorious with a 6-1, 6-1 win.

"We are already looking forward to Birmingham next weekend and the quality matches we will have there as well," Sisk concluded.

Green Wave Results
Flight 3B Singles
Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Iryna Vardanian (NWST), 4-1 ret.
Sisti (TLN) def. Charline Anselmo (SMU), 6-2, 6-2
FINAL: Tsveta Dimitrova (UH) def. Sisti (TLN), 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3

Flight 4A Singles
Sade Atkinson (TLN) def. Khee Yen Wee (SHS), 6-4, 4-6 ,6-2
Atkinson (TLN) def. Pippa Carr (TXST), 6-4, 6-0
FINAL: Arisha Ladhani (DEN) def. Atkinson (TLN), 7-5, 6-2

Flight 5A Singles
Sonja Radosevic (DEN) def. Sofia Kurtz (TLN), 6-4, 6-2
Kurtz (TLN) def. Rikeetha Pereira (USM), 3-6, 6-2, 10-7
CONSOLATION FINAL: Carrie Casey (SHS) def. Kurtz (TLN), 6-1, 6-1

Flight 2A Doubles
Sisti/Kurtz (TLN) def. Trigona/Moldonado (TA&MCC), 6-3
Dimitrova/Mazzari (UH) def. Sisti/Kurtz (TLN), 6-2
THIRD PLACE MATCH: Sisti/Kurtz (TLN) def. Perez/Anselmo (SMU), 6-3