University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gopher Tennis Wraps Up Day One of the ITA Central Regional Championship
10/9/2024 7:19:00 PM | Tennis
Memphis, TN - The University of Minnesota tennis program competed in the first day of the 2024 ITA Central Regional Championship. Arina Valitova, Anlin Xie, and Sofia Pinto all earned a victory in the open round of the qualifying draw as seven Gophers competed on the day.
Valitova claimed her first victory over Nebraska's Lucy Loy, 6(0)-7(7), 6-3, 6-2. She then fell, 6-1,5-7,0-6 to Wichita State's Anne Knuettel in the round of 32.
Xie defeated Sandra Luckacova of Missouri State, 6-2, 6-1 in the round of 64. However, fell to Kansas State's Zali Morris, 7-5, 1-6, 2-6 in the round of 32.
Pinto won her first round match against South Dakota's Amanda De Oliveira, 7-5, 6-2. She fell in the round of 32 to Carla Muro Castellvi of Arkansas State, 2-6,2-6
All Gopher doubles pairings previously qualified for the main draw going into Thursday.
Next Up
The 2024 ITA Central Regional Championship will continue tomorrow, with main draw play beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT) at Leftwich Tennis Center in Memphis, Tenn.
Tomorrow will mark the opening round of the main draw, Minnesota's Aiva Schmitz, Anali Kocevar, and Mia Liepert will all be competing in the main draw for both singles and doubles.
Fans can follow the week's events on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and the ITA website.
Individual Singles Results
Qualifying Rounds
Jeselle Ante
Lost to Cara Mester (Oklahoma) 2-6,3-6.
Nora Knezevic
Lost to Erin McKenzie (Tulsa) 4-6,3-6.
Yinong Ma
Lost to Meriem Ben-Ezzidine (Kansas) 6-4,1-6,1-6.
Sofia Pinto
Def. Amanda De Oliveira (South Dakota) 7-5,6-2.
Lost to Carla Muro Castellvi (Arkansas State) 2-6,2-6.
Anlin Xie
Def. Sandra Luckacova (Missouri State) 6-2,6-1.
Lost to Zali Morris (Kansas State) 7-5,1-6,2-6.
Arina Valitova
Def. Lucy Loy (Nebraska) 6(0)-7(7), 6-3,6-2.
Lost to Anne Knuettel (Wichita State) 6-1,5-7,0-6.
B Draw
Deniz Turan
Def. Eda Numanoglu (Tulsa) 6-3, 7(7)-6(5).
Consolation
Nora Knezevic
Def. Ethel Li (North Dakota) 2-6,6-3,11-9.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Nicolly Ferreira (St. Louis) 6-1,6-1.
Yinong Ma
Def. Konomi Miyakawa (Central Arkansas) 6-4,6-3.