Florida Gators
ITA All-American (Qualifying) - Day 1
W-Tennis Enjoys Perfect Day in Qualifying Round at Riviera All-American Championships
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 | Women's Tennis
University of Florida freshmen Lauren Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) and Allie Will (Boca Raton, Fla.) marched into the final round of the singles qualifying draw at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships on Tuesday at the Riviera Tennis Club.
Both Gator rookies rolled past two ranked opponents on the opening day of qualifying action and aim to win one more singles match Wednesday for a spot in the main draw of the first collegiate Grand Slam event of the season.
Even before focusing on their respective singles matches, Embree and Will teamed on the doubles court where they upset SMU's 13th-ranked and third-seed pair of Marta Lesniak and Aleksandra Malyarschikova, 8-6. The Gator pair found themselves down 3-0, but rallied to earn the victory and advance against a very talented SMU team.
UF's Marrit Boonstra (The Netherlands) and Joanna Mather (Duluth, Ga.), the 10th-ranked and No. 2 seeded duo in the 32-team qualifying draw upended Texas' Vanja Corovic and Stephanie Davison, 8-4, in their opening round match.
“Overall, we were in a lot of tough situations, but we kept our composure and that was what set us apart today,” UF associate head coach Dave Balogh said. “This is a great start for us.”
Embree nearly blanked N.C. State's 70th-ranked Lenka Hojckova, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round of singles play, before she ousted FIU's 52nd-ranked Liset Brito, 6-4, 6-1. Embree, who has played and defeated four nationally ranked singles opponents in her young collegiate career, takes on Vanderbilt's 46th-ranked Catherine Newman in the third and final round of qualifying action on Wednesday, with the winner earning one of eight open slots in the main draw of the national event.
“Lauren played great today and never gave either of her opponents a chance,” Balogh said. “She was very aggressive in both matches and played well in transition.”
Will made the most as a “lucky loser” after she lost in the final round of pre-qualifying action, but was awarded a spot in the qualifying draw. On Tuesday, she battled past DePaul's 66th-ranked Anna Redecsi, 6-2, 7-5, before collecting a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 decision over Washington's 58th-ranked Denise Dy.
“Allie was down 5-2 in the second set of her match against Redecsi, but she kept her composure and fought her way back,” Balogh said. “She and Lauren played two very good opponents and got big wins today. For them to be playing in their first national college event and to play with the composure that they did today was so positive.”
In doubles, the teams will play two rounds on Wednesday, with the winners advancing into the 32-team main draw.
Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships, Qualifying
Riviera Tennis Club
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Tue., Oct. 6, 2009
UF Results Only
Singles Qualifying, First Round (Round of 64)
Allie Will (UF) d. (66) Anna Redecsi (DePaul), 6-2, 7-5
Lauren Embree (UF) d. (70) Lenka Hojckova (NC State), 6-0, 6-1
Singles Qualifying, Second Round (Round of 32)
Allie Will (UF) d. (58) Denise Dy (Washington), 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Lauren Embree (UF) d. (52) Liset Brito (Florida International), 6-4, 6-1
Doubles Qualifying, First Round (Round of 32)
(10) Marrit Boonstra/Joanna Mather (UF) d. Vanja Corovic/Stephanie Davison (Texas), 8-4
Lauren Embree/Allie Will (UF) d. (13) Marta Lesniak/Aleksandra Malyarschikova (SMU), 8-6
-UF-
