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TENNIS SWEEPS DAY ONE OF ITA QUALIFIERS
Boren and Pluskota Each One Win Away From Main Draw Berth
PACIFIC PALISADES,
Calif. - Led by sophomore Brynn Boren’s pair of singles wins and one
doubles win, the Tennessee women’s tennis swept through its first day
(5-0) of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championship qualifiers Tuesday
at the Riviera Country Club.
“It was a great day
for the Lady Vols,” co-head coach Mike Patrick said. “We have tough
matches Wednesday, but we are facing great competition and learning
every match.”
Boren started Tuesday in the doubles
bracket with freshman Sarah Toti. The No. 28-ranked duo defeated
Oklahoma State’s Meghan Blevins and Kanyapat Narattana, 8-5, and
advance to play No. 43 Juliette Coupez and Stephanie Hoffpauir of San
Diego on Wednesday. Coupez and Hoffpauir are the first ranked pair the
3-1 combo will face this season.
In singles
qualifiers, Boren also disposed of a pair of other ranked opponents in
straight sets. Ranked 31st in the ITA preseason poll, Boren defeated
No. 73 Sophie Oyen (Florida) 6-3, 6-0, before capping her day with a
7-6 (4), 6-4 decision against No. 42 Marianne Jodoin (Fresno State).
Senior
Natalie Pluskota continued her terrific play in singles with two more
wins, defeating No. 24 Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (Texas A&M), 6-3,
6-2 and No. 78 Courtney Collins (Memphis), 6-3, 7-6 (2).
All
five of the Lady Vols’ lone senior’s matches this season have come
against ranked competition, and she is 4-1 in those contests.
Boren
will play No. 28 Diana Nakic (Baylor) on Wednesday, while Pluskota will
face South Carolina freshman Zoe Scandalis, each for the right to earn
a spot in the event’s main draws.
Doubles are slated to begin at 9 a.m. PDT, while singles are scheduled to continue at 10:45 a.m. PDT.
Pluskota will team up with freshman Joanna Henderson on Thursday in the doubles main draw.
Eight
players from the singles draw and four doubles teams from the doubles
draw will earn the right to compete in the main draws of the event.
Main draw play will take place over four days, beginning on Oct. 6.
Singles
quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions will
receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor
Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 3-6 in Flushing, N.Y.
The All-American Championship began in 1983 and features the top 128 players in the country.
Riviera/ITA All-American Championships
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
SINGLES QUALIFIERS
Brynn Boren (UT) def. Sophie Oyen (UF) 6-3, 6-0
Boren (UT) def. Marianne Jodoin (Fresno St.) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Natalie Pluskota (UT) def. Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar (A&M) 6-3, 6-2
Pluskota (UT) def. Courtney Collins (Memphis) 6-3, 7-6 (2)
DOUBLES QUALIFIERS
Brynn Boren/Sarah Toti (UT) def. Meghan Blevins/Kanyapat Narattana (OkSt), 8-5
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