Ohio State
USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
Di Lorenzo to Compete for National Indoor Title – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 14, 2015
WatchESPN final coverage | NIIC Website
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State women’s tennis freshman Francesca Di Lorenzo will compete for the USTA-ITA National Indoor Championship Sunday at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. Saturday, Di Lorenzo posted a straight-set win in the semifinals over No. 8 seed Stephanie Wagner of Miami, 6-4, 6-4. It was her third win over a seeded player in the tournament; Di Lorenzo topped the No. 3 seed in the Round of 16 and the No. 6 seed in the quarterfinals. She has dropped just one set in her four matches.
The final will be streamed on WatchESPN at 10 a.m. Sunday. Di Lorenzo will face Clemson’s Joana Eidukonyte, who was ranked 11th in the preseason rankings. Di Lorenzo is the first in program history to reach the NIIC final match.
The Ohio State doubles team of junior Miho Kowase and sophomore Anna Sanford posted a 6-4, 6-3 win against Oklahoma State’s Maria Alvarez/Kelsey Laurente in the second round of their consolation doubles bracket. The Buckeyes will face Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle of Stanford in the final match not before 11:15 a.m. Sunday.
In the semifinals Saturday vs. Miami’s Wagner, Di Lorenzo poted a 6-4, 6-4 win. Di Lorenzo broke to open the match and after three holds, led 3-1. Neither player could hold the next four games, putting Di Lorenzo ahead, 5-3. Wagner held for a 5-4 match but Di Lorenzo was able to serve out the set, winning 6-4. The second set also opened with Di Lorenzo breaking, but Wagner broke back. Each held the next game before two breaks, tying the match at three. Di Lorenzo broke for a 4-3 lead and was able to consolidate for a 5-3 advantage. Wagner held, with Di Lorenzo to serve ahead 5-4. Di Lorenzo held at love to claim the set, 6-4, and the match for her spot in the final.
In second round doubles consolation, Kowase and Sanford downed Oklahoma State’s Alvarez and Laurente, the central region champion, 6-4, 6-3. The Buckeyes were down a break early (1-2) but broke right back and then held for a 3-2 advantage. After each team held, Ohio State’s tandem broke to go ahead 5-3. The Cowgirls broke the Buckeyes for the chance to get back on serve, but the Buckeyes broke for the third time in the match to claim the set 6-3. In the second set, Ohio State broke in the second game and was able to make it stand, holding to win the set, 6-3, and the match. The Buckeye tandem has wins over the preseason No. 27 and 13 teams during the tournament.
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
Singles Semifinals
Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. No. 8 Stephanie Wagner (MIA), 6-4, 6-4
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)
Doubles 2R Consolation
Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (OSU) def. Maria Alvarez/Kelsey Laurente (Oklahoma State), 6-4, 6-3
