Oct. 21, 2010
Contact: Dan Carr
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Cleveland State women's tennis team had two members advance to second round play of the singles qualifying draw on the first day of the ITA Midwest Regional Championships on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Nicole Janek defeated Jeremie Benjamin of Akron (6-4, 6-2) in her first round match. Alex Power beat Notre Dame's JoHanna Manningham (7-5, 0-6, 6-3).
"Power had a nice win," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "She threw a bomb in the second set and then rallied back, which was nice to see. It was a good display of mental toughness. Nicole also picked up a good win. We had some of the best moments of the year today."
Both Janek and Power fell in the second round, with Janek losing to DePaul's Christiana Raymond (7-6, 6-4) and Power falling to Kara Cecil of Ohio State (6-4, 6-2).
Although Catrine Bjerrehus and Kara Sherwood lost their first round matches, each played well in consolation matches. Sherwood defeated Cali Gustafson of DePaul (6-2, 6-2), and Bjerrehus fell to Anya Baronyate of Akron (3-6, 6-1, 10-6) in a very close tie-breaking set.
"It was good to get a couple wins today," Etzkin said. "We came looking to get qualified, and didn't play well on some points in those matches, so that was a little disappointing."
The team will continue its play at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships with doubles play tomorrow (Oct. 22).
"Our doubles teams are going against players from Toledo and DePaul, schools that we've faced earlier in the year," Etzkin said. "Since we have some experience playing these teams, I think we have a good chance to advance in tomorrow's portion of the tournament."
ITA Midwest Regional Championships
Singles Qualifying Draw
First Round
Kelsey Lawson (DePaul) d. Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU), 6-4, 7-6
Nicole Janek (CSU) d. Jeremie Benjamin (Akron), 6-4, 6-2
Alex Power (CSU) d. JoHanna Manningham (Notre Dame), 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
Caterina Kiefer (IPFW) d. Kara Sherwood (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
Second Round
Christiana Raymond (DePaul) d. Nicole Janek, 7-6, 6-4
Kara Cecil (Ohio State) d. Alex Power, 6-2, 6-4
Consolation Play
Kara Sherwood d. Cali Gustafson (DePaul), 6-2, 6-2
Anya Baronyate (Akron) d. Catrine Bjerrehus, 3-6, 6-1, 10-6
