SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Yellowjacket women's tennis team opened action Friday, competing in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional Championships along with the Midwest Invite. Both events are based out of Gustavus Adolphus College, who will host 29 of the top regional teams throughout the Saint Peter and surrounding areas.
In the ITA Midwest Regional
Andreina Tejada (Quito, Ecuador/Isaac Newton) faced off against Jane Spading of St. Olaf, a singles match that saw the Oles come out on top 7-6 (7-3), 6-0.
Leading off singles action at the Midwest Invite for the Yellowjackets was
Anouk Bluemm (Nuernberg, Germany/Wilhelm-Loege Gymnasium), who fell against Allie Brostreau of UW-Stevens Point 6-4, 6-4.
Giulia Araujo De Barros (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Sabre) grabbed the first 'Jacket victory of the day, downing Ellie Kalina of Loras 6-1, 6-4. Moving into the quarterfinal, she went toe-to-toe with Margaret Silgen of Saint Benedict. Falling 6-4 in game one, Araujo De Barros rallied to win game two 7-6 before winning the tiebreaker 10-8.
Elif Oezen (Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, Germany/Einstein Gymnasium) earned a pair of strong victories Friday, beginning with a 6-2, 6-0 effort versus Carley Motz from Concordia-Moorhead. Her momentum carried her into the quarterfinals against Anna Key of Gustavus Adolphus, winning 6-0, 6-3. Earning 6-2, 6-4 victories over bridge-rival St. Scholastica's Claire Rewertz was
Daylyn Drew (Negaunee, Mich./Negaunee). Shifting to her quarterfinal match, she defeated Sidney Wright of Gustavus Adolphus 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets.
Claudia Curtis (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) faced off against Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) competitor Amy Eckstrom of Crown College, fairing well as she won 6-3, 6-2. Against Veranique Poquette from Gustavus Adolphus, Curtis fell 6-2 before winning game two 6-4. In the playoff it came down to the wire, but Poquette came out on top 10-8.
Earning a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Concordia-Moorhead's Ava Lowman was
Brooke Wilfong (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech). Moving to the quarterfinals, she took on a tough opponent in Izzy Brinkman. Wilfong would fall 6-4, 6-3 to her counterpart at UW-La Crosse.
Kate Jonas (Annandale, Minn./Annandale) and
Jessi Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) rounded out singles action for UWS. Jonas fell to Katie Thompson of Gustavus Adolphus in 6-1, 6-1, while Kukowski fell 6-2, 6-3 to Grinnell's Sofia Bolanos.
Transitioning to doubles action, the tandem of Kukowski and Wilfong faced off against their counterparts from Concordia-Wisconsin, ultimately falling by an 8-5 decision. The duo of Bluemm and Oezen would fall 8-5 to UW-La Crosse before Jonas and Drew picked up the first doubles victory of the weekend, defeating Edgewood's duo 8-2 before taking on UW-Eau Claire and falling 8-2.
Rounding out the day was Curtis and Araujo De Barros. After a first match withdrawal, the 'Jackets took on St. Scholastica and came out on top 8-7(5).
Day two of both events continue Saturday at 9 a.m., spanning across multiple venues in the Saint Peter area.
