Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Knezevic who won at both singles and doubles on Day 1 at the ITA East Regional Championships.
SYOSSET, N.Y. - - The rains in the Northeast forced the 2016 ITA East Regional Championships indoors and the Wilmington University women's tennis team saw all three doubles teams and one qualifying singles match advance to wrap up the first day.
The move inside to Sportime Syosset has forced all the action to six courts, drawing out the competition making for a tiring day of tennis. But competing in their first ITA Regional Championship, the Wildcats fared well, considering.
The number two doubles duo of Anushka Sathe and Milica Knezevic were called upon first and they moved on in the pro-set style with an 8-1 victory over a duo from Southern New Hampshire. They move on to play Queens in the second round of the doubles competition.
The number one doubles duo of Begona Gomar and Laura Gil also advanced to the second round with an 8-1 victory, defeating Queens in the first round. The duo moves on to play the tournament's No. 8 seed from NYIT in the second round.
Although the number three doubles duo of Sabrina Blasi-Smith and Lauren Kiger did not play on Friday, they advanced to the second round with a bye in the draw. They will now play the doubles winner between Chestnut Hill and Merrimack in the second round.
The number four, five, and six singles players were placed into the qualifying bracket for the Wildcats, have to advance their way into the Championships Singles draw later in the weekend. Knezevic carried her win from doubles into her singles match, defeating her opponent from Southern New Hampshire, 8-0, to advance to the second round.
Kiger nearly defeated her opponent from Southern New Hampshire, but fell, 8-6, while Blasi-Smith was also knocked out, falling 8-0 to her USciences' opponent.
Sathe, Gomar, and Gil were placed in the Championships Singles draw and will begin their singles competition once the qualifying bracket has been completed.
Day two of the 2016 ITA East Regional Championships is set for Saturday, with the continuation of the doubles bracket and the second round of the singles qualifying draw.