PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Junior Catherine Newman recorded wins over two top-100 players to advance to the third round of the singles qualifying bracket today. With one more win, Newman will advance to the main singles draw of the 2008 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
Newman ranked No. 40 in the preseason ITA poll, defeated Georgia’s 61st-ranked Naoko Ueshima in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4 after opening the day with a win over BYU’s Kristina Doerr, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 in the first round.
Newman, a Greensboro, S.C., native will match up against Kentucky’s Megan Broderick in today’s third round of the singles qualifying bracket. The winner between Newman and No. 55 Broderick will clinch a spot in this weekend¹s main championship draw.
“I am really proud of the way Courtney and Catherine played during the first day of the tournament,” assistant coach Aleke Tsoubanos said.
Senior Courtney Ulery battled back after dropping a hard-fought match to No.24 Katie Rybakova of Florida State in the first round to defeat No. 58 Mallory Voelker of Denver in three sets, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1. Ulery squares off against Duke’s Amanda Granson in today’s consolation draw.
“Courtney showed a lot of courage battling back to win the match after being down a set,” Tsoubanos said.
In doubles action the 35th-ranked pair of Ulery and Newman dropped a hard-fought match to No. 29-duo of Samantha Murray and Keri Robinson of Northwestern 8-5. The Commodore duo will match-up against Georgia’s team of Nadja Gilchrist and Monika Dancevic in Wednesday’s consolation action.
