Pitt
ITA Regionals
Blakely and Ogungbesan Reach Round of 16 at ITA Regionals
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Updated ITA Regional Bracket
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The doubles team of Audrey Ann Blakely and Lolade Ogungbesan advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA Atlantic Regional on Saturday afternoon at the Burleson-Burrows Tennis Center on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Blakely and Ogungbesan, the eighth-ranked team in the tournament, advanced to tomorrow’s Sweet 16 with a dramatic 8-7 (5) victory over Towson’s duo of Williams/Shakhnazarova.
“Lolade and Audrey Ann faced match points in doubles and their poise took them to the next round,” head coach Alex Santos said. “I believe that tomorrow we will elevate our level and I'm excited with the direction we're taking.”
Blakely and Ogungbesan will take on Virginia Tech’s duo of Butler/Nandakumar on Sunday. They are the only Pitt tandem remaining as both of the other doubles teams lost on Saturday.
Amanda Wickman and Amber Washington were topped by Virginia’s Mercer/Morton in a very close 8-6 decision, while Molly Wickman and Callie Frey were defeated by Virginia Tech’s Raluca Mita and Illinca Stoica, 8-5.
In singles, the three Pitt players who were in the main draw all made early exits as Blakely, Ogungbesan and Molly Wickman were eliminated on Saturday, but all in very closely contested matches.
After dropping the first set 6-3, Blakely rebounded to win the second set 6-3 against Oga Barcheheuskaya on VCU, but Barcheheuskaya won the deciding set 6-3 to advance.
Ogungbesan also lost a three set match as she was defeated by Skylar Morton of Virginia. Ogungbesan won the first set 6-4, and almost ended the match in the second set but Morton escaped with a 7-6 (5) victory. Morton would win the third set 6-1.
After winning two singles matches in the qualifying round to earn a berth in the main draw, Molly Wickman was defeated 7-5, 6-4 by Marie Faure of Virginia in the opening round.
“I am really proud of the character, resiliency, and pride that the girls showed today in every single match. We faced some top players in college tennis in both singles and doubles and we were highly competitive putting ourselves in the position to win. I couldn't ask for better seniors in Molly and Amanda. The energy and will to sacrifice is relentless and great things lie ahead when the level of care is that high.”
Action at the ITA Regional continues tomorrow at Virginia Tech. Blakely and Ogungbesan’s doubles match against Virginia Tech will take place at 9 a.m.
