WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Three Commodore women’s tennis players closed out its play in the quarterfinals of the main singles draw at the ITA Southeast Regionals in Winston-Salem, N.C., Sunday.
“I was real pleased with our effort throughout the week out here,” assistant coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “To have three Commodores reach the quarterfinals of this tournament is quite the achievement to our players and it shows how much potential they have.”
Freshman Jackie Wu, who entered Sunday’s match with a team best 11-1 record, fell to Reka Zsilinska of Duke, 7-5, 6-3. Zsilinska, the tournament’s fourth overall seed, came into the match rated No. 17 by the ITA. Despite the loss, Wu once again showed she can play with anybody in the country and showcased that by dispatching the tournament’s fifth overall seed in Katarina Tsang.
Junior Catherine Newman solid week came to an end Sunday as she fell to Clemson’s Josipa Bek in another long, three set match. It was Newman’s third three-set match in a span of 24 hours. The junior Commodore was able to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Kentucky’s 55th-ranked Megan Broderick in three sets the day before.
After winning her first three matches of the main singles draw, Keilly Ulery fell to the tournament’s second overall seed, Laura Gioia of Furman, 6-1, 6-2. Ulery entered Sunday’s match coming off two huge three set wins, including a win over No. 50 Sasha Kulikova of Wake Forest.
“I am extremely proud of Catherine’s and Keilly’s efforts to reach the quarterfinals after having played two three-set matches the previous day,” Tsoubanos added. “That showed a lot about their character and toughness.”
“We played a lot of good matches against quality opponents and this will serve as great preparation for the SEC Fall Coaches Classic in two weeks.”
The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team will close out its fall season Nov. 6-9, as it travels south to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the annual SEC Fall Coaches Classic.
Round of Eight (Quarterfinals) Results
No. 17 Reka Zsilinska (Duke) def. Jackie Wu (VU) 7-5, 6-3
No. 72 Laura Gioia (Furman) def. Keilly Ulery (VU) 6-1, 6-2
Josipa Bek (Clemson) def. No. 40 Catherine Newman (VU) 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), 6-1
