Oct. 4, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Ayano Tanaka advanced to her first-ever front draw finals and Morgan Carney rebounded from a first round loss to move into the B flight consolation final Saturday at the University of Cincinnati's Queen City Invitational.
"I am very proud of the way our team fought and clawed in each of our matches today," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Brandon Padgett. "One more day of play should bring us more positive results. Our focus is on improving each day."
Tanaka earned her appearance in the finals with a three set victory over Eastern Kentucky's Jemma Auers. She cruised in the first set, breaking Auers multiple times for the 6-1 win. Auers returned the favor in the second, evening the match at a set apiece with a 6-2 win. The third set was much closer, but Tanaka emerged on top, 7-5, to set a 9 a.m. meeting with Xavier's Kelsey Kinnard for the title.
Should Tanaka win, it would be the Owls third front draw title in as many events. She would join Vera Shkundina, who won the A2 draw at the Steve Baras Fall Classic, and Agatha Palider, who won at last week's Hampton Roads Open, as Owls with wins this season.
Carney easily won her consolation match, dropping only two games in a 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Dayton's Nikki Dzubay. She will square off with Ball State's Sarah Hebble at 9 a.m. on Sunday in the final.
The Owls came out on the losing end of things in their other two singles matches. MacKenzie Swindall lost 6-3, 6-0 to Miami's (OH) Riekie Honiball in the A flight consolation semifinals while Lindsay Dillon lost her D flight front draw semifinal match with the Redhawks' Jessica Parr 6-4, 6-1.
Shkundina won the A singles consolation backdraw by default after her semifinal and final opponents both withdrew because of injury.
"Today started off very poorly and it is obvious that we need to work hard on improving our doubles," added Padgett. "That being said, we turned things around quickly and played excellent singles today."
Alena Sergeychik teamed with Cincinnati's Abby Mayo for the Owls lone doubles win, advancing to the B flight semifinals with an 8-2 win over Dayton's team of Emily Buerschen and Chelsea Gray. The mixed team lost in the semis when Cathy Starr and Kaitlyn Zinn of Xavier stopped them 8-3.
Shkundina and Tanaka lost in their A flight quarterfinal match, falling 8-5 to Ball State's pairing of Hanna Oman and Kylee Johnson. Swindall and Carney fell short as well, losing 8-4 to Dayton's Nikki Dzubay and Kelly O'Connell.
Recaps of Tanaka and Carney's matches will be available following the conclusion of play on Sunday.
