Oct. 10, 2008
Jessica Kunzelmann and Diana Mendez are still in the hunt for singles conference titles in their respective flights. The remainder of the Panthers who competed in singles play on the opening day of the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships lost their first-round matches. They now find themselves competing for a fifth place finish.
Sampada Kanade, who is competing in the No. 1 singles flight, lost her opening round match to Drake's Veronika Leszayova 6-1, 6-4. She will face Lauren Mastro of Creighton tomorrow as she competes in the fifth place consolation bracket.
Phoebe Walker was victorious in her first match in the No. 2 singles division. The freshman defeated Lindsey Erickson of Creighton 6-2, 6-4. However, her first match was a play-in game, so she competed in her first-round match later in the day. Walker was topped by Indiana State's Valeriia Petrovych in that match 6-3, 6-2. She will also begin play in the fifth place consolation bracket tomorrow, facing the winner of Bradley's Emily Regenold and Vishakha Sheoran of Southern Illinois.
Senior Taynara Moraes was topped in her No. 3 singles first round match, falling to Ame Blacketer of Southern Illinois 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Moraes will meet Creighton's Nicole Nakaoka tomorrow.
In the No. 4 singles flight, freshman Jessica Kunzelmann defeated Jessica Aguilera of Drake in a tight match 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Kunzelmann will take on Tanja Hrovatic of Illinois State tomorrow in her semifinal match.
Laia Gonzalez-Garrido came close to winning both of her sets, but fell in both. She succumbed to Wichita State's Lenore Lazaroiu 7-6 (4), 7-5. The sophomore faces Bradley's Jessica Buterbaugh tomorrow in consolation play of the No. 5 singles bracket.
Diana Mendez continued her success at the No. 6 singles position, defeating Erin Krubeck of Bradley 6-0, 6-4. Mendez, a sophomore, will take on Torrie Browning of Wichita State tomorrow in her semifinal match.
The Panthers did experience more success in doubles play compared to singles play. Two out of the three pairs that competed earned a spot in the semifinals of their bracket.
The No. 1 doubles team of Sampada Kanade and Taynara Moraes lost their first match, falling into the consolation bracket. The upperclassmen were topped by Blacketer and Mawisire of Southern Illinois 8-5. They will play Evansville's Chybowski and Kotsiou tomorrow.
The No. 2 doubles pair of Phoebe Walker and Laia Gonzalez-Garrido defeated Creighton's Erickson and Nakaoka 8-2. The underclassmen will meet Budiharto and Egorova of Wichita State tomorrow in the semifinals.
Diana Mendez and Jessica Kunzelmann teamed up to defeat Millis and Cox of Evansville 8-2 in their first-round doubles match. They face Hanisch and Lazaroiu of Wichita State tomorrow in their semifinal match.
The MVC Individual Championships continue tomorrow at the Drake Tennis Center with consolation and semifinal play.
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