Tennis Shows Well at USTA/ITA South Regionals

At the 2014 USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Brenau tennis team had a strong showing in the tournament to begin the 2014-2015 season.

In singles play, five Golden Tiger players took to the court in an exceptionally competitive bracket.

The #3 seed, Maria Perdomo-Medina won her round of 32 match over Rachel Jefcoat of Belhaven (Miss.) University, 6-0, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, the senior cruised past Meghan de Baroncelli of Loyola (La.) University 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the regional quarterfinals where she fell to the #5 seed Alice Baudeign from Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) University 6-3, 6-2.

Sophomore Snezhana Kiseleva won her opening match over Ellen Scott from Belhaven University in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, but lost to the overall #1 seed Nour Abbes from Xavier (La.) University 6-0, 6-1.

Newcomer Patricia Recalde lost a tough opening round match versus Judith van Fraaijenhoven from Georgia Gwinnett College, but cruised through the consolation bracket before losing in the consolation finals.

Junior Kelley Cohron lost her round of 32 match to Celine Lenertz from Auburn-Montgomery 6-2, 6-0, while freshman Nathalia Bolivar lost her opening match to Brion Flowers 6-3, 6-4.

Newcomer Paula Rives Palau won her opening round match over Rebecca Rivera from Point (Ga.) University, 6-0, 6-1, but lost to the #6 seed Paula Diaz from Auburn-Montgomery 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 32.

In doubles play, the #3 ranked team of Perdomo-Medina and Recalde easily won their opening match 8-0 and their quarterfinal match, 8-2, but were upset in the semifinals by AUM's Claudine Maheu and Alice Baudeign.

The duo of Rives Palua and Bolivar cruised through their round of 16 match, 8-1, but were defeated 8-0 by the #1 seeded team of Paula Diz and Anna Rudolfova from Auburn-Mongomery.

"Overall I really enjoyed the tournament," said head coach Andre Ferreira. "We play, in my opinion, in the strongest ITA region in the NAI and this tournament is so great because it brings the top players in the NAIA South Region together for the first time of the year".

"It's the first time you see the new players in action and how the competition looks. We definitely have a lot of work to do in the coming months. But I am confident we have a talented group that is willing to put in the work to develop into better players".