Women's Tennis - WVU Athletics

Tsui Leads Mountaineers at ITA Regionals

Women's Tennis

By Brian Kuppelweiser for WVUsports.com
October 19, 2012 07:43 PM

Vivian Tsui

Dale Sparks/All-Pro Photography

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In its first day of play at the ITA Atlantic Regionals in Blacksburg, Va., freshman Vivian Tsui led the way for the West Virginia University women’s tennis team, after she played her way through the singles qualifier bracket to earn a berth to the main singles draw.

Tsui, who entered the regional with a 4-4 record in singles play, scored two victories during the course of the afternoon.

In her first singles match, the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, native knocked off Liberty’s Valerie Thong, 6-3, 6-2. Tsui then followed that with a win over No. 8-seeded Kelly Williford, 6-4, 6-4 to earn a berth in the main singles draw. Tsui will open play on Saturday with a match against Marshall’s Dominika Zaprazna.

"Vivian played some very good tennis today," said coach Tina Samara. "She was able to beat a very solid lefty from Virginia Tech. She has already come a long way during the course of our fall season."

Also playing in the singles qualifying bracket was senior Emily Mathis and freshman Irinka Toidze. Mathis was defeated by Kai Broomfield of Marshall, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, while Toidze was defeated by fifth-seeded Sydney Smith of William & Mary, 6-3, 6-2.

In the doubles draw, Mathis, along with fellow senior Audrey Wooland, was able to handle Alexandra Sheeran and Nicola Wellman, 8-4. The victory sets up a match against Old Dominion’s Diana Ivanova and Aleksandra Mitrovska on Saturday morning.

"Overall, it was a pretty decent first day," Samara said. "Emily battled during her singles match. She had a rough week heading into this tournament, so I was proud of her effort and fight. Having four players playing in the main singles draw is a step in the right direction."

For complete brackets from the first day of action at the ITA Atlantic Regionals, click here.

The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. at the ITA Atlantic Regionals.

A full recap of the day’s action will be available on WVUsports.com after the completion of competition.

RESULTS
Broomfield (Marshall) def. Emily Mathis (WVU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Smith (William & Mary) def. Irinka Toidze (WVU), 6-3, 6-2
Vivian Tsui (WVU) def. Thong (Liberty), 6-3, 6-2
Vivian Tsui (WVU) def. Williford (Virginia Tech), 6-4, 6-4
Emily Mathis/Audrey Wooland (WVU) def. Sheeran/Wellman (Liberty), 8-4
Smith/Vulovich (William & Mary) def. Irinka Toidze/Vivian Tsui (WVU), 8-3

Tags
WVU Women's Tennis, NCAA Women's Tennis, WVU Mountaineers

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