Ohio State
USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
Di Lorenzo Advances to National Indoor Championships Semifinals – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 13, 2015
WatchESPN streaming | NIIC website
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State women’s tennis freshman Francesca Di Lorenzo posted two wins Friday to advance to the semifinals of the National Indoor Championships at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Both victories came against seeded players, with a straight set win against UNC’s Haley Carter, the No. 3 seed, in the Round of 16 and a three set victory over No. 6 seed and defending NIIC champion Julia Elbaba of Virginia.
The semifinals will be streamed on WatchESPN beginning at 9 a.m. Di Lorenzo will face No. 8 seed and preseason No. 6 ranked Stephanie Wagner of Miami. The match is second on court nine (not before 9:30 a.m.).
The Ohio State doubles team of junior Miho Kowase and sophomore Anna Sanford rallied for a victory over preseason No. 13 ranked Elbaba and Skylar Morton of Virginia in second round doubles consolation, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (2). The Buckeyes will face Lynn Kiro/Alexandra Valenstein of Texas Tech Saturday, third on court four (not before 11:30 a.m.).
In the Round of 16 vs. Carter of UNC, who was ranked No. 9 in the preseason, Di Lorenzo won the first three games before back-to-back wins by Carter for a 3-2 score. Di Lorenzo then won the last three games, breaking with Carter serving 4-5, to claim the first set 6-4. In the second set, Di Lorenzo and Carter each held the first three games before seven straight breaks. Di Lorenzo rallied from 15-40 down to break Carter and win the second set, 6-4, and the match, 6-2, 6-4.
In the quarterfinals vs. Virginia’s Elbaba, the defending tournament champion and preseason No. 3-ranked player, Di Lorenzo did not drop a game in the first set, winning 6-0. Elbaba captured the second set, winning the last two games, breaking with Di Lorenzo serving at 4-5, for a 6-4 set win to force a third set. In the third, after four holds, Di Lorenzo broke for a 3-2 lead, consolidating the break for a 4-2 advantage. After a hold by Elbaba, Di Lorenzo held at love to go up 5-3. Down 0-40 with Elbaba serving, Di Lorenzo rallied back, winning the last four points for a 6-3 set win. Di Lorenzo captured the match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, to earn her semifinal spot.
In second round doubles consolation, Kowase and Sanford took on Elbaba and Morton of Virginia, the preseason No. 13 team. The Buckeyes lost the first set, 3-6, before rallying to claim the second, 6-3, and force a match tiebreaker. Kowase and Sanford rolled in the tiebreaker, 10-2, to win the match.
Di Lorenzo, rated the top newcomer in collegiate tennis entering this season, received a USTA wildcard into the National Indoor Championships 32-player singles draw. Kowase and Sanford won the ITA Midwest Regional championship, the first regional title in program history, to earn their spot in the 20-team doubles draw.
ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Flushing, N.Y.
Ohio State results
Singles Round of 32
Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. Maiar Sherif Ahmed (Fresno State), 6-4, 6-1
Singles Round of 16
Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. No. 3 Hayley Carter (UNC), 6-2, 6-4
Singles Quarterfinals
Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. No. 6 Julia Elbaba (UVA), 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles Round of 32
Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (OSU) def. Blaga Delic/Sheila Morales (Nevada), 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Round of 16
No. 3 Mami Adachi/Aldila Sutjiadi (Kentucky) def. Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (OSU), 4-6, 6-3, 11-9
Doubles 2R Consolation
Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (OSU) def. Julia Elbaba/Skylar Morton (UVA), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (2)
