Women’s Tennis: Radovanovic Leads Cajuns With Two Hard Fought Wins
AUBURN, Ala. – Ragin’ Cajuns freshman Dana Radovanovic won both of her matches in the B draw moving into the quarterfinals to lead Louisiana’s women’s tennis team on the first day of the 2017 ITA Southern Regionals at Auburn University.
HOW IT HAPPENED (B Draw Singles Round Of 32): Radovanovic faced off against ULM’s Flernce Salerno in her first matchup of the day and she blew through her Warhawk opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0 to move into the round of 16.
HOW IT HAPPENED (B Draw Singles Round Of 16): In this round Radovanovic ran into a strong Dominika Hrabalova from UAB and the match went into a third set tiebreaker. After taking the first set and losing the second set, Radovanovic was faced with winning a 10 point third set tiebreaker.
The breaker went back and forth with both women fighting to move onto the next round. But Radovanovic had the extra fuel to get her through to the end and she pulled ahead late to get the win and finish the match as the 6-1, 1-6, 10-8 victor.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Round Main Draw): Senior Kelly Drew, facing off against UAB’s Alexandra Shchipakina, fell in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to move into the consolation portion of the main draw.
Cajuns freshman Floriane Picaut faced off with Mississippi State’s Sara Lizariturry in her first-round matchup. Picaut put up a fight in the first round, but it wasn’t enough to stay in the match and she fell in straight sets 6-4, 6-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Main Draw Singles Consolation): In the consolation round of 32 Drew faced off against Southern Miss.’s Elena Roca and Drew lost her second match of the day falling in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to end her weekend.
Picaut moved onto the round of 16 when her opponent withdrew from competition.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Doubles Main Draw Round Of 32): In the first round of doubles the Cajuns pairing Picaut and Radovanovic lost their first-round match up against Samford’s Horsfall and Pool 8-3 to move into the consolation bracket that will start up tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.
QUOTEWORTHY (Head Coach Stephanie Vallejos):
"It was tough day of competition. For Floriane and Dana this tournament provides them with the challenge and experience they need to see when they play doubles together. In singles Dana really fought the pressure and stepped up when she needed to. We are back at it tomorrow and I’m confident the girls will fight hard."
UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Radovanovic will look to move into the semifinals with a win against Southern Miss.’s Claudia Castella in the quarterfinals taking place tomorrow morning. While Picaut will have a chance to advance into the quarterfinals of the main draw consolation with a matchup against Troy’s Efriliya Herlina starting at noon on Saturday.
As for the Cajuns doubles pair of Picaut and Radovanovic, their weekend is far from over, with a chance to advance is in the main draw doubles consolation with a match up against South Alabama’s Martins and Palmen Saturday at 8 a.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE CAJUNS: Follow the Cajuns @RaginCajunsWT on twitter where updates and links to recaps from the day’s results will be posted.
2017 ITA SOUTHERN REGIONALS
Oct. 20-23, 2017 at Auburn, Ala.
Friday, Oct. 20
Main Draw Singles Round Of 64
Alexandra Shchipakina (UAB) def. Kelly Drew (UL) 6-1, 6-1
Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Floriane Picaut (UL) 6-4, 6-0
Main Draw Singles Consolation
Picaut (UL) def. Kylie Moulin (UA) W/D
Elena Roca (Southern Miss.) def. Drew (UL) 6-3, 6-4
B Draw Singles Round Of 32
Dana Radovanovic (UL) def. Flrence Salerno (ULM) 6-2, 6-0
B Draw Singles Round Of 16
Radovanovic (UL) def. Dominika Hrabalova (UAB) 6-1, 1-6, 10-8
Main Draw Doubles Round Of 32
Horsfall/Pool (Samford) def. Picaut/Radovanovic 8-3