Buckeyes Finish First Day of ITA Midwest Regional – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three Buckeyes are still in competition in qualifying singles at the ITA/USTA Midwest Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich., after the first two rounds Thursday. Qualifying singles action continues Friday at the tournament, hosted by the University of Michigan. Results and brackets can be found at mgoblue.com.
Freshman Tiffany Dittmer won both of her matches in straight sets, the first against Amanda Moccia of Western Michigan, 7-6 (6), 6-1, and the second against Carolina Castro Cota of Akron, 6-0, 6-4. Classmate Noelle Malley followed suit, downing Carolyn Jesko of Youngstown State, 6-0, 6-3, before advancing past second-seeded Anya Baronayte of Akron, 6-4, 6-3.
Sophomore Kara Cecil used her first-round bye to outmuscle Alex Power of Cleveland State, who had played a three-set match earlier in the day, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Freshman Kelsey Becker advanced to the second round on a 6-2, 6-4 victory over DePaul’s Cali Gustafson, but fell to Margarita Sadovnikova of Youngstown State in round two, 6-3, 7-5. Fidan Manashirova met a similar fate after a first-round bye when Wisconsin’s Nicky Stracar bounced the sophomore from the tournament in the second round, 6-3, 6-4.
Cecil faces Ashley Frey of Toledo Friday while Malley will take on Illinois’ Allison Falkin. Dittmer is scheduled to face DePaul’s Kelsey Lawson. All three will advance to main draw singles with a victory.
The ITA/USTA Midwest Regional starts with a 48-player singles qualifier, with eight advancing to the main field of 64. The event includes a 48-team doubles main draw that begins at 2 p.m. Friday. The championship match for doubles will be played Monday morning while singles wraps up Tuesday morning.
The Midwest Regional is a qualifier for the ITA National Indoor Championships Nov. 4-7 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. The singles finalists and doubles champions from regionals across the country earn automatic bids into the tournament.
ITA/USTA Midwest Regional
Oct. 21-26, 2010
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Qualifying Singles
First Round
Tiffany Dittmer (OSU) def. Amanda Moccia (WMU), 7-6 (6), 6-1
Noelle Malley (OSU) def. Carolyn Jesko (YSU), 6-0, 6-3
Kelsey Becker (OSU) def. Cali Gustafson (DEP), 6-2, 6-4
Second Round
Dittmer (OSU) def. Carolina Castro Cota (AKR), 6-0, 6-4
Malley (OSU) def. Anya Baronayte (AKR), 6-4, 6-3
Kara Cecil (OSU) def. Alex Power (CSU), 6-2, 6-4
Nicky Stracar (WIS) def. Fidan Manashirova (OSU), 6-3, 6-4
Margarita Sadovnikova (YSU) def. Becker (OSU), 6-3, 7-5
