AUBURN, Ala. (October 15, 2024) – North Alabama Women's Tennis concluded the weekend at ITA Regionals at Auburn, taking home 13 wins and multiple second round appearances from Auburn, Ala.
The Lions faced competition from a variety of NCAA Division I teams, battling in singles and doubles play. Each Lion was able to secure at least one win with two players winning three total matches on the weekend. Seniors Stanislava Bobrovnikova and Anoek Pruijmboom, along with junior Eeva Ristola, led with two singles wins while Ristola and Pruijmboom added an additional doubles win.
"I am so proud of the team this weekend," said UNA Director of Tennis and Women's Tennis Head Coach Olaya Garrido-Rivas. "This was a high-level tournament, and the girls rose to the occasion. We had four teams in the second round of the doubles main draw and three girls in the second round of singles. A total of five girls represented the team in the main draw singles, which was higher than any year in our Division I history. It shows the team is heading in the right direction, and now it's time to keep working hard for the next tournament in two weeks. Roar Lions!"
In doubles, the Lions had a strong start as three teams opened with victories. Sophomore Mathilde Delaney and Bobrovnikova earned a first-round bye, but juniors Eeva Ristola and Lena Karlovcan started with an injury-retirement win over Jayna Clemens and Athina Pitts of Mississippi State. The UNA duo was winning 6-5 before the retirement.
Junior Senem Ocal and sophomore Emma Ansorge beat Angelina Blinova/Gagana Mohan Kumar of Southern Miss, 8-1, and Pruijmboom and sophomore Ada Karabacak followed with an 8-1 win over Nina Skoric/June Vigneron of Louisiana Tech. All four doubles team fell in the ensuing second round.
In singles action, Pruijmboom, Ristola and Karlovcan earned wins in the opening qualifying draw. Pruijmboom got the day started with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 triumph over Soha Singh of Louisiana Tech, and Ristola won UNA's second singles match with a walkover win over UAB's Mariapaz Ospina. Karlovcan also earned a singles win, defeating Louisiana Tech's Alice Brooks, 7-5, 6-2.
The main draw saw Bobrovnikova defeat Sara Ernenda of Samford, 6-2, 6-2, followed by Ristola earning a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Leigh Van Zyl of Tulane. Ansorge nabbed the final win of the opening round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Margaret Jaraczewski of Samford.
The Lions fell in the second round of the tournament, but UNA earned additional wins in the consolation round and pickup matches.
Delaney dropped a 7(7)-6(1), 6-3 battle to Klara Milicevic of Alabama in the opening main draw, but she rebounded with a 6-4, 4-6, 10-1 win over Emily Surcey of Samford in the consolation round.
The pickup matches began with Ocal nabbing a solid 6-0, 6-3 win over Jordan Parker of Southern Miss. Pruijmboom won her second singles match in a hard-fought 7(7)-6(4), 6-4 over Mio Kozaki of Louisiana Tech. Bobrovnikova won the final match for UNA with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Angelique Berrat of Louisiana.
For full results, click here.
North Alabama Women's Tennis returns to action at the MTSU Hidden Dual next time out, competing in Murfreesboro, Tenn. from Oct. 25-27.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
