Women’s tennis competes in ITA Southern Regional

The Troy women’s tennis team competed at the ITA Southern Regional last week, with a player and a doubles pairing advancing to the round of 16 against tough competition from around the Southeast. 

The Trojans started off with success in the qualifying draw -- Alexia Zarate began the day by taking down Samford’s Lea Erenda in the qualifying round of 64. Zarate claimed victory in two sets, 6-3 and 7-5. 

Veena Nazar defeated Elani Liakonis, also of Samford. Her round of 64 victory came in a three-set battle. After dropping set one 6-1, Nazar battled back to take sets two and three, 6-4 and 6-3. 

In the round of 32, Zarate continued her winning ways. She took Louisiana’s Marilou Bressan to three sets in a back-and-forth contest. The conference foes took their best shots, but in the end, Zarate stood tall, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. 

Turning to doubles action, Emilia Namyslo and Sama Hindawy teamed up for a doubles victory in the main draw. The duo toppled McNeese’s Naomi Hagi and Stella Rundova, 8-7 (7-5). 

Day two saw the Trojans continue their quest at ITA Southern Regionals.  

Valeriia Avdeeva won her main draw round of 64 matchup against Kristyna Damaskova of UAB. Avdeeva took set one but dropped set two via tiebreaker. In set three, Avdeeva proved to be too much for Damaskova, taking the set and the match, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. 

In the round of 32, Maria Guirguis took the court against Louisiana’s Angelique Berrat. She bested Berrat in two sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). 

Avdeeva returned to action to take on Mia Robinson of Mississippi State for her round of 32 matchup. They each took a set, battling to a third set. Avdeeva went on to secure the victory and move on, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). 

In the round of 16, Avdeeva wouldn’t quit, as she pushed Auburn’s Ashton Bowers to a set two tiebreaker before falling.   

The duo of Sama Hindawy and Emilia Namyslo also held their own against Power Four competition but ultimately fell. They battled Amina Salibayeva and Addison Bowman of Alabama to a tiebreaker, 8-7 (7-2). 

The Troy women’s tennis concluded their fall season and will hit the court again in the spring.