Solid start for No. 15 women's tennis on first day of nationals; tied for fourth
Tyler, Texas – The 15th-ranked Mesa women's tennis team had a solid opening day at the NJCAA Division I National Championship, advancing to the second round in six of the nine flights. The tournament is being held at Tyler Junior College.
MCC had four of six singles players move on to the round of 16 and two of three doubles teams step up to the quarter final round. With 12 points the T-Birds were tied with five other teams for fourth place. Collin is leading with 18.
Number one singles player Ana Villalvazo scored a solid, 6-1, 6-1, win over Tanya Madhok of Mercer County. Villalvazo will now face a major challenge, taking on top-seeded Maria Genovese of Tyler on Monday.
Meanwhile, Paige Stanford, MCC's No. 3 singles player, won over Thando Kololo of Iowa Central, 6-4. 6-2, and will take on Alena Macherova of Seward Co.
In addition, Brooke Maclay scored a 6-0, 6-1 win over Maegan Connor of Iowa Central and is set to face Guillia Leall, of Broward, tomorrow.
Finally, Alahazy Rossi was a 6-4, 6-4 winner against Grace Marino from Lake County and has a match coming up Monday against Kaitlyn Williams of Snead State.
In doubles, the No. 2 team of Anders and Stanford won, 6-2, 7-5, over Kaitlin Craig and Dixie Hodges of Jones Co., and will oppose sixth-seeded Vanessa Cozamanis and Giulli Leall from Broward, in the quarter finals.
Finally, MCC's No. 3 team of Maclay and Rossi scored a 6-4, 7-5 win against Katie Hill and Elaina Holt of Snead State, and will meet fourth-seeded Margot Fontaine and Coraline Lamer of Cowley, Monday.
Among those who lost were No. 2 Sabrina Sanchez who fell to fifth-seeded Maria Aviega, of Seward, 3-6, 1-6; No. 4 Cindy Anders who lost to Andrea Farris, of Collin, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6 and the No. 1 doubles team of Sanchez and Villalvazo which fell to Dayana Ortega and Paula Jankun, of Iowa Central, 4-6, 2-6. All will participate in the consolation bracket beginning Monday.
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