Oct. 20, 2011

Contact: Renee Adam

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Qualifier Draw | Consolation Draw 1 | Consolation Draw 2

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Kara Sherwood and Alex Power each recorded victories during the opening round of the qualifier draw Thursday to lead the Cleveland State women's tennis team at the ITA Midwest Regional.

"Overall we had some great energy out on the court today and we were really focused and ready to play," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "I saw us making adjustments throughout the day, which I always like to see."

Sherwood's victory came over Angelina Jogasuria from Akron, as she earned a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win. With the win Sherwood advanced to the second round of the qualifier draw, where she fell to Chelcie Abajian of Illinois, 6-2, 6-2.

"Kara was able to beat a player from Akron in the first round that she lost to last year, so that was a huge positive for her. She finished the match by winning the last six games, so it was a good comeback win," Etzkin said.

Power earned her first round victory over DePaul's Carolin Neumann, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to advance to the second round. During the second round of play in the qualifier draw, Power fell to No. 4 seed Natalie Edell from Northwestern, 6-1, 6-2.

"Despite coming back from a shoulder injury, Alex beat a very good DePaul player in her first round match. She had passion out on the court today and she was able to find a way to pull out a three set win even though she wasn't at 100%," Etzkin said.

Nicole Janek, Maria Lazaris and Catrine Bjerrehus also competed in the qualifier draw for CSU Thursday, Janek and Lazaris both earning a bye for the first round.

Janek and Lazaris both fell in the second round of the qualifier draw, Janek falling to Natasha Kuvekina of Akron, 6-0, 6-2 and Lazaris falling to Anita Henstrosta of IPFW, 6-1, 6-4.

Bjerrehus also dropped her first round match Thursday, falling to Alexa Pitt of Toledo, 6-3, 6-2.

All five Vikings that competed in the qualifier draw moved on to the consolation bracket, including Bjerrehus who was victorious in her first match of the consolation bracket. Bjerrehus earned a 1-6, 7-6 (5), 10-4 win over Eastern Michigan's Daphne Friedrichs and will now face a competitor from Western Michigan Friday.

Sherwood, Power, Janek and Lazaris will all be in action Friday in their first matches of the consolation bracket. The doubles draw will also begin Friday afternoon.

"Tomorrow we have the main doubles draw and consolation matches in singles, so we are still going to come out and compete. Every match this weekend we are coming out prepared and going for the result that we want," Etzkin said.