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ITA Regional ChampionshipsThe 2016 Division 1 ITA Regional Championships came to a close today with three more women sweeping singles and doubles titles. All said and done four women won both singles and doubles titles while just one man pulled off the same feat (see list at bottom of this post).
Northwest (Stanford) –
Singles/Doubles Draws – Cal junior Karla Popovic snapped Stanford’s six-year stranglehold on the ITA Northwest Region Singles Championship with a straight set win over Stanford freshman Emma Higuchi. Popovic broke Higuchi early and often and was in control of the match from start to finish. Popovic raced out to a 5-1 lead in the first set and after hitting a service winner from 40/30 she had a 6-2 set in the bank. Popovic kept the momentum going by breaking Higuchi to start the second set and then she consolidated the break with a hold for 2-0. There would then be 5 consecutive breaks of serve before Popovic held at love to close out the match 6-2, 6-2.
One hour later Popovic would return to the court for the doubles final as she and sophomore Oliva Hauger took on Stanford sophomores Caroline Lampl and Kimberly Yee. The Cal duo took the first set 6-2 and then went up a break at 3-2 in the second when they broke on the no-ad point. After an exchange of holds, Cal went up 40/15 on its 4-3 service game but Stanford broke on the no-ad point to even it at 4-4. Cal broke back from 30/40 to go ahead 5-4 but Stanford returned the favor and broke from 15/40 to even it at 5-5. Cal broke again from 30/40 to go ahead 6-5 but once against Stanford would break back from 15/40 to send the second set to a tiebreak. Cal took the first three points of the tiebreak but Stanford took the next six to take a 6-3 lead. Cal got back-to-back service winners to pull within 6-5 but Stanford won a long point to close out the tiebreak 7-5. The difference in the tiebreak was Stanford’s net play with the Cardinal frequently poaching and finishing points with volley winners.
The Championship would be decided in a ten-point supertiebreak and after going down an early mini-break Cal evened it at 3-3 at the first changeover. Stanford led 7-5 at the next changeover but Cal managed to take five of the next six points to close it out 10-8. It was the first time since 2006 that Cal had won both regional championships (Henkel-S; Babos/Fodor-D).
“It’s super exciting,” Popovic said of winning both titles. “I wasn’t expecting it. I just wanted to play one match at a time today and play my best. I’m very, very happy with both titles.”
“They did a great job,” Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. “We had a great five days of the tournament here. We’ve been building to qualify as may players as we can for national indoors. I’m excited to see Olivia, who lost in last year’s doubles final, come away with a championship with a new partner. They’re off to a really good start as a team. Karla’s performance this whole fall semester has been outstanding. She faced Higuchi in the final at Saint Mary’s, and to repeat that on Higuchi’s homecourt was a great accomplishment.”
“Saint Mary’s was the first time we played, so I didn’t quite know her game style yet, but it helped me for this match today,” said Popovic, who also won a third singles title on Oct. 2 at the Cal Nike Fall Invitational.
“It’s extremely exciting,” Hauger said. “This was the goal. We had a great tournament at Saint Mary’s before, and we looked forward to regionals and hoped to make it to nationals. I’m proud of us. We fought pretty hard.”
“Both of their games complement my game so well,” Hauger said. “Klara is a very aggressive player, and I was steady, and Karla and I complement each other very well as well. We know what each other is going to do on most balls. We communicate really well, which allows us to make adjustments and really figure out what we need to do as a team.”
“Olivia has worked a lot on her game since last year as has Karla,” Augustus added. “They’ve both improved tremendously in net play as well as in transition shots. That’s why we felt confident to put them together as a team and have them be successful.”
“We’re excited that when the selections come out to hopefully have more Bears joining Karla and Olivia,” Augustus said, “and then we’ll turn our preparations towards next weekend there as well as to ASU.”
Singles Championship
[5] Karla Popovic (Cal) def. [9] Emma Higuchi (Stanford) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Championship
[7] Olivia Hauger/Karla Popovic (Cal) def. Caroline Lampl/Kimberly Yee (Stanford) 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-8
_________________________________________________________
Midwest (Michigan State) –
Singles/
Doubles –
Live Scoring – One day after teaming up to win the ITA Midwest Region Doubles Championship Michigan sophomore Kate Fahey and junior Alex Najarian were back on the court to play each other in the singles final. The doubles final took place in East Lansing but the All-Michigan singles final was played back in Ann Arbor. The match itself was a fairly quick one with Fahey going up early breaks in both sets and cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 win in just under an hour. Fahey’s win marked the fourth year in a row that a Michigan player had captured the Midwest Region Singles Championship and it was the third time in four years that Michigan had swept the singles and doubles titles.
Championship
[3] Kate Fahey (Michigan) def. [13-16] Alex Najarian (Michigan) 6-2, 6-2
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Women’s Northeast (Yale) –
Singles/
Doubles –
Live Streaming – Syracause senior Valeria Salazar played in the Northeast Region Singles and Doubles Finals a year ago, losing in both, but today she had a chance to make amends and she did just that.
Salazar jumped on St. John’s freshman Jessica Livianu in the singles final by going up an early double-break at 5-1 and would close out the set 6-2. The second set stayed on serve until Salazar broke Livianu to go up 3-2 and then Salazar held on the no-ad point on a swinging volley winner to make it 4-2. Salazar broke at love to go up 5-2 but Livianu broke back from 15/40 to make it 5-3. Livianu fell behind 30/40 on her next service game and after an ace brought up the no-ad point she would double fault to give Salazar the 6-2, 6-3 win.
Salazar was back on court 20 minutes later as she and sophomore Gabriela Knutson took on Penn senior Kara Daniel and freshman Ashley Zhu in the doubles final. This match followed a similar path as the singles final as the Syracuse duo went up early breaks and rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win.
Prior to Anna Shkudun’s singles title last year no Syracuse player had won an ITA Regional Championship since 1993 but now they’ve won one two years in a row.
“Congratulations to Valeria on a great week,” head coach Younes Limam said. “It’s very difficult to win this tournament with so many great players, but Valeria showed so much heart, grit and consistency. We have always been proud of the way she competes and conducts herself, but this fall she has been leading our team and has been very committed to the process.”
“We are also very proud of the way Gabriela and Valeria worked together through the doubles bracket,” Limam said. “They showed resilience throughout the tournament and played their best in the finals.”
“Valeria is a player who has had a big impact on our program,” Limam said. “She helped the team make the NCAA tournament for the first time and she made the NCAA in doubles. This year she is on the path for becoming an All-American.”
Championship
[5-8] Valeria Salazar (Syracuse) def. [3] Jessica Livianu (St. John’s) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles Championship
[1] Gabriela Knutson/Valeria Salazar (Syracuse) def. [5-8] Kana Daniel/Ashley Zhu (Penn) 6-2, 6-2
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Men’s Northeast (Penn) –
Singles/
Doubles – Cornell senior Chris Vrabel overcame a break deficit in both the first and second sets to defeat Penn junior Josh Pompan to win the ITA Northeast Region Singles Championship. Pompan broke Vrabel to take a 3-2 first set lead but Vrabel immediately broke back at love to tie it at 3-3. After three straight holds Vrabel broke Pompan at love to take the opening set 6-4. Pompan went up a break to start the second set but Vrabel broke back at love to even it at 1-1. Pompan broke again to go up 3-2 but Vrabel broke back and held for 4-3. After a pair of holds, Vrabel broke from 30/40 to close out the 6-4, 6-4 win.
Championship
[17-32] Chris Vrabel (Cornell) def. [9-16] Josh Pompan (Penn) 6-4, 6-4
Columbia’s Pham Brothers, Richard and Victor, won the All-Columbia doubles final with a 6-1, 6-3 win over senior Shawn Hadavi and freshman Jackie Tang in a match that was played back in New York City. Hadavi and Tang will have a good chance of getting the host wild card into the National Indoor Intercollegiates since Columbia hosts the event.
Doubles Championship
[5-8] Richard & Victor Pham (Columbia) def. [3-4] Shawn Hadavi/Jackie Tang (Columbia) 6-1, 6-3
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Women’s National Indoor Intercollegiate Qualifiers
Singles (32-draw)
Francesca Di Lorenzo (Ohio State) – All-American Champion
Ena Shibahara (UCLA) – AA Runner-Up & Oracle ITA Masters Champion
Hayley Carter (North Carolina) – AA Semis
Astra Sharma (Vanderbilt) – AA Semis
Sinead Lohan (Miami FL) – AA Consolation Champion
Camille Gbaguidi (SCAD) – Oracle Cup Champion
Claudia Herrero (Nevada) – ITA Mountain Champion
Lily Miyazaki (Oklahoma) – ITA Central Champion
Marie Faure (William & Mary) – ITA Atlantic Champion
Alizee Michaud (Auburn) – ITA Southern Champion
Eleni Christofi (Georgia) – ITA Southeast Champion
Sara Daavettila (North Carolina) – ITA Carolina Champion
Ashley Lahey (Pepperdine) – ITA Southwest Champion
Blair Shankle (Baylor) – ITA Texas Champion
Aidila Sutjiadi (Kentucky) – ITA Ohio Valley Champion
Kate Fahey (Michigan) – ITA Midwest Champion
Valeria Salazar (Syracuse) – ITA Northeast Champion
Karla Popovic (Cal) – ITA Northwest Champion
Host (Columbia) Wild Card
USTA Wild Card
ITA Wild Card
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (ITA Regional Runner-Up)
At-Large (Based on Fall Results)
At-Large (Based on Fall Results)
At-Large (Based on Fall Results)
At-Large (Based on Fall Results)
Doubles (20-draw)
Hayley Carter/Jessie Aney (North Carolina) – All-American Champion
Luisa Stefani/Jean Runglerdkriangkrai (Pepperdine) – AA Runner-Up
Mami Adachi/Aldila Sutjiadi (Kentucky) – AA Consolation Champion
Diana Bogoliy/Rosalie Willing (Lynn) – Oracle Cup Champion
Milou Pietersz/Vivienne Kulicke (UTEP) – ITA Mountain Champion
Vladica Babic/Carla Tur Mari (OKST) – ITA Central Champion
Kristina Hovsepyan/Alexandra Stanova (Maryland) – ITA Atlantic Champion
Erin Routliffe/Andie Daniell (Alabama) – ITA Southern Champion
Kate Fahey/Alex Najarian (Michigan) – ITA Midwest Champion
Ellyse Hamlin/Samantha Harris (Duke) – ITA Carolina Champion
Josie Kuhlman/Belinda Woolcock (Florida) – ITA Southeast Champion
Mayar Ahmed/Christine Maddox (Pepperdine) – ITA Southwest Champion
Blair Shankle/Elizabeth Profit (Baylor) – ITA Texas Champion
Lesedi Jacobs/Justina Mikulskyte (Kentucky) – ITA Ohio Valley Champion
Gabriela Knutson/Valeria Salazar (Syracuse) – ITA Northeast Champion
Olivia Hauger/Karla Popovic (Cal) – ITA Northwest Champion
At-Large (ITA Regional Semis or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Semis or better)
Host (Columbia) Wild Card
USTA Wild Card
Men’s National Indoor Intercollegiate Qualifiers
Singles (32-draw)
Petros Chrysochos (Wake Forest) – All-American Champion
Hugo Di Feo (Ohio State) – AA Finalist
Mikael Torpegaard (Ohio State) – AA Semis
Christian Sigsgaard (Texas) – AA Semis
Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech) – AA Quarters
Alfredo Perez (Florida) – AA Quarters
Tom Fawcett (Stanford) – AA Quarters
Florian Lakat (Cal) – AA Quarters
Brandon Holt (USC) – AA Consolation Champion
Ryotaro Matsumura (Kentucky) – Oracle ITA Masters Champion
Oliver Frank (Azusa Pacific) – Oracle Cup Champion
Andre Goransson (Cal) – ITA Northwest Champion
Nuno Borges (Mississippi State) – ITA Southern Champion
Skander Mansouri (Wake Forest) – ITA Carolina Champion
JC Aragone (Virginia) – ITA Atlantic Champion
Jakob Amilon (UNLV) – ITA Mountain Champion
Guy Iradukunda (Florida State) – ITA Southeast Champion
Ryan Peniston (Memphis) – ITA Ohio Valley Champion
Gage Brymer (UCLA) – ITA Southwest Champion
Arthur Rinderknech (Texas A&M) – ITA Texas Champion
Jose Salazar (Arkansas) – ITA Central Champion
Strong Kirchheimer (Northwestern) – ITA Midwest Champion
Chris Vrabel (Cornell) – ITA Northeast Champion
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better – High UTR)
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Quarters or better)
Host (Columbia) Wild Card
ITA Wild Card
USTA Wild Card
Doubles (20-draw)
Florian Lakat/Filip Bergevi (Cal) – AA Champion
Jack Findel-Hawkins/Lasse Muscheites (North Florida) – AA Runner-Up
Tommy Bennett/David Warren (Rice) – AA Consolation
Jordan Cox/Kevin Konfederak (Georgia Gwinnett) – Oracle Cup Champion
Sameer Kumar/Yale Goldberg (Stanford) – ITA Northwest Champion
Fabian Fallert/Grey Hamilton (Ole Miss) – ITA Southern Champion
Skander Mansouri/Christian Seraphim (Wake Forest) – ITA Carolina Champion
Jacob Dunbar/Alexandre Felisa (Richmond) – ITA Atlantic Champion
Alex Gasson/Yannik James (Denver) – ITA Mountain Champion
Simon Freund/Morgan Mays (UC Santa Barbara) – ITA Southwest Champion
Johannes Ingildsen/Alfredo Perez (Florida) – ITA Southeast Champion
Luis Valero/Jack Schipanski (Tennessee) – ITA Ohio Valley Champion
Reese Stalder/Trevor Johnson (TCU) – ITA Texas Champion
Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe (Oklahoma State) – ITA Central Champion
Jathan Malik/Kevin Wong (Michigan) – ITA Midwest Champion
Richard & Victor Pham (Columbia) – ITA Northeast Championship
At-Large (ITA Regional Semis or better)
At-Large (ITA Regional Semis or better)
Host (Columbia) Wild Card
USTA Wild Card
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