Oct. 6, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Madeleine Hakansson again advanced to the semifinals of a fall tournament as the women's tennis team had another solid showing as the Owls competed in the Queen City Invitational this weekend at the Queen City Racquet Club.
Hakansson, who made it to the semis of the Steve Baras UTC Collegiate Championships two weeks ago, was again stellar on Friday as the senior won a pair of straight-set matches. Hakansson defeated a tough first round opponent in Aylin Seyalioglu of Xavier (Ohio), 6-3, 6-0.
In the second match of a very top-heavy draw, she defeated another strong opponent in Ball State's Sophie Quist, 6-1, 6-2.
"Once again, Madde showed she is a big time player," said Director of Tennis Operations T.J. Greggs. "She had two easy wins over very difficult competition."
In other "A" singles action, Mercedes Cobos fell in straight-sets to Britney Larson of Miami (Ohio) in the Round of 16. In her consolation match, Cobos had to retire after suffering back spasms after winning the first set from Svetlana Pimenova of Eastern Kentucky.
"We started off very slowly in doubles today, but we came back stronger in singles," said head coach Brandon Padgett. "Overall, the day was promising, and we hope to improve on our play tomorrow and keep making our way through the draws. Our hope is that we still have several players alive for Sunday finals."
In "B" singles action, freshman Ayano Tanaka continued her strong play, advancing to the quarterfinals. Tanaka defeated Caroline Castro-Cota of Akron in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. In the quarters, however, Tanaka fell to Valeriya Dandik of Cincinnati, in a tough match which she lost a second set tie-breaker.
Karen Ammann defeated Jemma Euers of Eastern Kentucky in the Round of 16, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Ammann was stopped by Bowling Green's Katia Babina 6-2, 6-3
Caroline Page fell to Xavier's Jill Ducro, 6-1, 6-2 in "C" singles action. In the consolation round's first match, Page lost to Akron's Kerry Langworthy. Paula Takara lost in the round of 16 to Jeanette Feider of Xavier, 6-1, 6-3.
Concluding the singles action, Lindsay Dillon had a strong first round match, defeating Cincinnati's Ashley Hale, 6-4, 6-2.
"We saw some good things from two of our freshmen [Tanaka and Dillon], added Greggs. "Both were able to pick up first round wins against some top players. Dillon's win was especially good as she considers herself a doubles specialist, but she showed she can compete just fine on the singles court."
In a rough quarterfinal draw, Dillon suffered a loss to Sam Kintzel of Bowling Green in the in straight sets.
"Lindsay had an unfortunate draw in the next round, playing the number three player from Bowling Green, but she handled the situation well and did the best she could against a much stronger opponent."
Jenna Wright lost in the first round of the main draw, but advanced to the second round of the consolation round while Lindsey Whalen dropped a hard-fought straight set decision to Kelsey Kinnard of Xavier. Whalen was upended by Ball State's Katherine Rist in the first round of the consolation draw.
In doubles action, the Owls saw Cobos and Takara lose in their round of 16 match, 8-3 while Ammanna and Hakansson played a tooth-and-nail opening match, falling to Quist and Calderwood of Ball State, 8-6.
In "B" doubles, Whalen and Page lost to Bowling Green's Babina and Menoff, 8-2 while Tanaka and Dillon, who will be teamed together for the first time, earned a first round bye.
"I am looking forward to seeing Tanaka and Dillon," added Padgett. "They'll get a chance to take the doubles court together for the first time tomorrow and I am hoping for good things."
Saturday's Schedule
A Doubles
Consolation First Round
Takara/Cobos (KSU) vs. Benlamin/Berry (Akron), 9:00 am
Consolation First Round
Ammann/Hakansson (KSU) vs. Seyalioglu/Courtney (Xavier), 10:00 AM
B Doubles
Quarterfinals
Dillon/Tanaka (KSU) vs. Volle/Harrison (BGSU), 10 am
Consolation Semifinals
Whalen/Page (KSU) vs. Winner of Xavier/Miami
A Singles
Semifinals
Hakansson (KSU) vs. Anastasia Dracheva (Miami (OH)), 2:00 PM
2nd Consolation
Cobos (KSU) vs. TBD, 2:00 PM
B Singles
Consolation Semifinals
Tanaka (KSU) vs. Hall (Ball State), 3:30 PM
Consolation Semifinals
Ammann (KSU) vs. Rowen (Cincinnati), 4:30 PM
C Singles
2nd Consolation
Page (KSU) vs. Gleason (EKU), 5:00 PM
Consolation
Takara (KSU) vs. TBD, 3:30 PM
D Singles
Consolation Semifinals
Wright (KSU) vs. Hale (CIncinnati)
2nd Round Consolation Semifinals
Dillon (KSU) vs. TBD, 5:00 PM
2nd Consolation
Whalen (KSU) vs. TBD, 5:00 PM
