Anzhelika Shapovalova Makes Quarterfinals at ITA

Saturday, October 22

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Anzhelika Shapovalova Makes Quarterfinals at ITA

10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Oct. 22, 2016

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Two consecutive wins propelled sophomore Anzhelika Shapovalova into the history books for Miami women's tennis as the first RedHawk to reach the quarterfinal round in the main draw of the ITA Regional Championships. The Red and White also continued their stint at the IU Regionals with impressive matches across the board.

ITA Regionals

Shapovalova made program history after some impressive wins that would ultimately send her to the quarterfinals. Shapovalova took on Garcia from Austin Peay State University to win in straight sets (7-5, 6-4). She continued to the next round where she faced Sarah Candelero of UT Martin. Shapovalova took the match in straight sets again (6-2, 6-2). The Moscow-native returns tomorrow to take on Emma Kurtz from Vanderbilt.

Junior Nelli Ponomareva came back today for a shot at the quarterfinals in her respective flight, but fell short after a battle with Vanderbilt's Emily Smith. The junior RedHawk started off strong to win the first set (7-5). Ponomareva unfortunately dropped the decision in the last two sets (4-6, 2-6).

Senior Adreea Badileanu and Ponomareva returned to the courts today to play against Tshated and Buberl from Lipscomb. The pair played well but ultimately fell in a close match (8-7).

IU Regionals

Miami returned strong for day two of the IU Regionals with impressive wins from all the players including sophomore Emily Struble who took on Alicia Robinson from Indiana. Struble started off slow, losing the first set (1-6). She came back to win the second set in a decisive (6-3) and then finished strong to take the match in a tiebreaker (11-9).

The RedHawks were also well represented in junior Erin Rodriguez after she beat Yana Golovkina of Southern Illinois University in straight sets (7-6, 6-1). Among the returners was junior Anastasiia Vasiukhina who dropped a match to Western Michigan's Denise Azcui (6-1, 6-4).

Miami had a solid showing in doubles play from the combination of Struble and Vasiukhina after they topped Van Oost and Doshi from Northewestern in a close match (8-6). The twosome went on to face Notre Dame's Chong and Spence who ultimately bested the RedHawks (8-1). Miami will return tomorrow to compete in their respective flights for the last day of competition.

For updates on the matches and more, be sure to follow @MiamiOH_Tennis on Twitter!