Despite high hopes entering the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women's Ohio Valley Regional Championships, Indiana women’s tennis was defeated in the earlier rounds of the tournament.
Eight Hoosiers entered the tournament held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and only four advanced to the main draw. Senior Nicole Teodosescu and freshman Ameia Sorey advanced the furthest, but both fell in the Round of 16.
Teodosescu lost to the No. 7-seeded Tennessee senior Vanesa Suarez 1-6, 2-6, after defeating East Tennessee State University sophomore Audelie Lesauvage 6-2, 6-1 in the Round of 64 and University of Louisville senior Alice Otis 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the Round of 32.
Sorey cruised to wins over Southeast Missouri State University sophomore Yontha Tadoum, 6-0, 6-4, and Miami University freshman Allie Faulkner, 6-2, 6-1, in the first two rounds. It set Sorey up for a Round of 16 showdown against the No. 1-seeded Tennessee senior Catherine Aulia. Sorey took the first set but lost the next two for a 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 defeat.
Freshman Hi’ilani Williams and junior Elisabeth Dunac also made the main draw. Dunac won two qualifying matches against Butler University sophomore Brook Arington 6-3, 6-2 and Purdue senior Fatima Gutierrez 6-2, 6-3.
After moving into the main draw, Dunac defeated Southeast Missouri State freshman Saskia Soome 6-0, 7-6(5). However, her tournament ended in the Round of 32 against the No. 9 seeded Tennessee sophomore Saray Yli-Piipari 3-6, 7-6(6), 0-6.
Williams did not have to go through the qualifying rounds. The Arizona native cruised past IU Indianapolis junior Sara Jankovic 6-0, 6-0 in her opening match. Williams then matched up against No. 9 seeded Tennessee sophomore Francesca Mattioli and was defeated 1-6, 6(1)-7 in the Round of 32.
The other four Hoosiers who entered the tournament were defeated during the two qualifying rounds. Freshman Mansi Vadyala won her first match but lost to Middle Tennessee State University senior Rutuja Chaphalkar 3-6, 6(4)-7.
Junior Chase Boyer lost to Soome 4-6, 7-5, 1-6 in her opening qualifying match. Juniors Li Hsin Lin and Magdalena Swierczynska also lost their first-round showdowns, with Lin losing to Lipscomb University sophomore Martina Bovio 2-6, 6(6)-7. Swierczynska was defeated 4-6, 4-6 to the No. 9 seed Austin Peay State University junior Luca Bohlen.
The doubles pairings for Indiana did not fare much better than in singles. Four duos were entered and only two advanced past the Round of 64. Williams and Lin were seeded ninth and won their Round of 64 matchup against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore Zara Burns and junior Margaret Manolache 8-2. They then lost 3-8 to the Louisville double of junior Elena Noguero and redshirt freshman Lucia Gallegos.
Teodosescu and Sorey started doubles with an upset 8-1 win over the No. 9 seed double of East Tennessee State junior Niyati Kukreti and Lesauvage. Their tournament ended against the Chattanooga duo of sophomore Rufaro Magarira and freshman Addison Iacono in a 0-8 loss.
Vadyala and Dunac pushed Belmont University sophomore Jessica Popiol and redshirt freshman Savannah Webster, but lost 6-8 in the Round of 64. Swierczynska and Boyer also lost in the opening round to Murray State University double of sophomore Yu Kikawa and junior Yuna Kadowaki 4-8.
Indiana will continue its fall tennis season at the Spartan Invite hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan, between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.
