CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati tennis team opened play at the 2019 ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships Thursday in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with five singles and one doubles team remaining in contention for the Bearcats. Rookies Claire Koscielski and Kelli Niehaus advanced to the third round of the main draw in doubles with the duo also finding their respective ways to the second round of the B draw and main draw in singles. Anna Philp also had a big day in the B draw as she won twice to remain undefeated so far this fall.
// ROOKIE CONNECTION
The freshman double duo is one of the #9 seeds in the main draw of the doubles tournament and, after a first-round bye, went the distance to down the Middle Tennessee State team of Burrows & Herrero, 8-7 (3). The win advances the Bearcats to face the Miami duo of Myers & Lysova Friday at 5 p.m. with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. So far this year, the UC team is 6-2 in doubles action and has now won two in a row.
Individually, both found success on their opening days in singles play as well. Niehaus, playing in the main draw, scored a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2) win over Hunter Roper (Xavier) to earn a meeting with 17-seeded Carla Girbau (Kentucky) Friday morning. Koscielski, the 4-seed in the B single draw, battled to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Sina Albersmeier (UT Martin) in the second round and will next meet Maddox Bandy (Lipscomb) in the third round Friday morning.
// PHILP PHEELING IT
Philp, seeded #9 in the B singles draw, won bother of her matches in straight sets Thursday. She opened the day with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Mizuka Zaurai (UT Martin) before scoring a 7-5, 6-1 win over Maddox Bandy (Lipscomb) in the second round. Philp is now 7-0 in singles action this year and will next face fifth-seeded Polina Goloputova (Chattanooga) who she defeated last weekend, 6-2, 7-5, in the UC/Pam Whitehead Invitational.
// MORE MOVING ON
Two other Bearcats advanced to the second round of play in the main draw, including Emma Miceli and Caroline Morton. Both Bearcats won in straight sets, including Miceli taking a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Noelle Mauro (MTSU) and Morton winning, 6-4, 6-2, over Peyton Lee (Belmont). Both will now face a 17-seed in their second-round match with Miceli taking on Anna Roggenburk (Xavier) and Morton facing Rhea Verma (Louisville).
// NEXT SERVE
Action for the Bearcats continues Friday at 9:00 a.m. with the second round of singles play.
2019 ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships
Adams Tennis Complex • Murfreesboro, Tenn.
October 17 • Day 1
SINGLES • Main Draw
Emma Miceli (1-0)
First Round • Miceli def. Noelle Mauro (MTSU), 6-1, 6-3
Second Round • Miceli vs. [17] Anna Roggenburk (Xavier), Friday at 9:00am
Caroline Morton (1-0)
First Round • Morton def. Peyton Lee (Belmont), 6-4, 6-2
Second Round • Morton vs. [17] Rhea Verma (Louisville), Friday at 10:30am
Kelli Niehaus (1-0)
First Round • Niehaus def. Hunter Roper (Xavier), 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2)
Second Round • Niehaus vs. [17] Carla Girbau (Kentucky), Friday at 10:00am
Alexia Coutino (0-1)
First Round • Rachel Reichenbach (Xavier) def. Coutino, 6-2, 6-1
Ioana Guna (0-1)
First Round • Laura Rico (Miami) def. Guna, 6-3, 6-3
Maria Santilli (0-1)
First Round • Love-Star Alexis (MTSU) def. Santilli, 6-4, 6-2
SINGLES • B Draw
#4 Claire Koscielski (1-0)
First Round • BYE
Second Round • [4] Koscielski def. Sina Albersmeier (UT Martin), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Third Round • [4] Koscielski vs. Maddox Bandy (Lipscomb), Friday at 9:00am
#9 Anna Philp (2-0)
First Round • [9] Philp def. Mizuki Zakurai (UT Martin), 6-4, 6-1
Second Round • [9] Philp def. Drew Hawkins (Belmont), 7-5, 6-1
Third Round • [9] Philp vs. [5] Polina Goloputova (Chattanooga), Friday at 9:00am
Sofia Bruno (1-1)
First Round • Bruno def. Grace Whitney (Wright State), 6-1, 6-0
Second Round • [2] Milana Lysova (Miami) def. Bruno, 6-2, 6-0
Amanda Huser (1-1)
First Round • Huser def. Anna Reynolds (Wright State), 6-2, 7-5
Second Round • Aziza Aubin (UT Martin) def. Huser, 6-1, 6-3
DOUBLES • Main Draw
#9 Claire Koscielski & Kelli Niehaus (1-0)
First Round • BYE
Second Round • [9] Koscielski / Niehaus def. Burrows / Herrero (MTSU), 8-7 (3)
Third Round • [9] Koscielski / Niehaus vs. Myers / Lysova (Miami), Friday at 5:00pm
#9 Alexia Coutino & Ioana Guna (0-1)
First Round • BYE
Second Round • Young / Van Hee (Chattanooga) def. [9] Coutino / Guna, 8-7 (4)
Amanda Huser & Anna Philp (0-1)
First Round • Roggenburk / Roper (Xavier) def. Huser / Philp, 8-1
Emma Miceli & Caroline Morton (0-1)
First Round • McKamey / Kubas (Indiana) def. Miceli / Morton, 8-6
DOUBLES • B Draw
#4 Sophia Bruno & Maria Santilli (0-1)
First Round • BYE
Second Round • Staiculescu / Hu (Indiana) def. [4] Bruno / Santilli, 8-1
Tennis Advances at ITA Ohio Valley Region Competition
The University of Cincinnati tennis team opened play at the 2019 ITA Ohio Valley Region Championships Thursday in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with five singles and one doubles team remaining in contention for the Bearcats.
