September 12, 2008
Minneapolis - The University of Northern Iowa women's tennis team began its 2008 fall season with some promising performances at the University of Minnesota Gopher Invitational.
Four Panthers won consecutive matches, and three earned their way to the semifinals in their respective flights. Two of UNI's four two-match winners are freshmen.
Senior Taynara Moraes advanced to the semifinals in the Lynx Singles Flight. Moraes cruised past South Dakota State's Emma Wylie 6-1, 6-1 then topped Erlyn Rudico of Air Force 6-2, 6-2. Moraes faces Marianne Cicmanec of Nebraska tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
Diana Mendez also earned a spot in the semifinals of the Lynx Singles Flight. Mendez defeated Julie Bardenwerper of Gustavus 6-3, 6-3 then topped Minnesota's Liz Tusler 6-2, 6-3. She meets Samantha Sarkis of Air Force tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
Freshman Jessica Kunzelmann defeated LSU's Kylie Adamek 6-1, 6-3 then edged Tahlia Smoke of Air Force 6-4, 7-6. Kunzelmann will compete in the semifinals of the Twins Singles Flight tomorrow, facing Sarah Cassman of Air Force at 1 p.m.
Freshman Talia Jang-Stewart, competing in the Wild Singles Flight (round robin format), defeated South Dakota State's Megan McDougall and Bethany Goeden 6-2, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-0 respectively. She faces Iowa State's Chelsea Loprinzi tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Freshman Phoebe Walker nearly joined her teammates in the semifinals as she was edged out by LSU's Nicole Kantor 3-6, 6-2, (10-3) after defeating Magdalena Wiecha of Minnesota 6-2, 4-6, (10-5). Walker faces Maria Fernanda Macedo of Iowa State tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the fifth-place consolation flight.
Laia Gonzalez-Garrido had a frustrating start to her season as she forfeited her matches due to a hip flexor injury.
Sampada Kanade dropped her opening round match versus Madeleine Geiberg of Nebraska 6-2 6-2. Kanade then faced Hannah Robinson of LSU and was defeated 6-1, 6-3. She plays Jana Albers of Nebraska tomorrow at 11 a.m.
The Gopher Invitational continues tomorrow with matches beginning at 8 a.m. and ending around 3 p.m. Championship matches will be held on Sunday.
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