Pitt Tennis Making Progress at Wildcat Invite
9/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Day One Draws
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Pitt tennis team completed its first day of competition at the Wildcat Invite Friday, hosted by Northwestern. Three Panthers and one duo posted victories in singles and doubles, respectively.
Not only did senior Amber Washington, sophomore Callie Frey, and freshmen Natsumi Okamoto and Carina Ma make it out of the Round of 32, but also advanced to the quarterfinals.
“I am really proud of the girls,” head coach Alex Santos said. “Their effort, toughness, resilience and ability to execute under pressure was great. This is a very intelligent group and we are learning what it takes to play and succeed at the highest level of collegiate tennis.”
Washington came out with a victory over Maddie Johnson of Drake 7-6 (5), 0-6, 7-5, in the opening Purple singles draw. She then went on to face Klara Supejova of Eastern Michigan and dropped the first set 6-7, but came back 6-3, 6-2, to secure the win. Up next for Washington is No. 110 Maddie Lipp of Northwestern in the quarterfinals.
In the White singles draw, Okamoto earned her first collegiate singles win 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, over Julia Sbircea of Ball State. The freshman then defeated Milica Tesic of DePaul 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, moving her to the quarterfinals to face the top seed, Jillian Rooney of Northwestern.
Frey advanced out of the first round thanks to a bye, and then took down her first opponent, DePaul’s Jarret Fisher, 6-2, 6-2. The Pittsburgh native will take on the top seed and No. 52 in the preseason rankings, Skylar Kuykendall of LSU in the quarterfinals.
“Amber was much closer today to the player we need her to be: poised, competing every point, and just trying to find a way to keep one more ball in the court,” Santos said. “I was also very pleased with Natsumi’s competitiveness, and the way Callie handled business.”
In doubles action, Blakely and freshman Gabriela Rezende shut down Michigan State’s Zelechonok/Chua, 6-2. Next on the docket for Blakely/Rezende is No. 34 Chatt/Lipp of Northwestern.
Action will continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. starting with doubles play.
For all things Pitt tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @PittTennis.