Oct. 20, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - Sophomore Taylor Russo advanced in both singles and doubles in the first day of play at the ITA Regional Championship. Five Tigers total advanced in the main draw of doubles and singles.
Russo, ranked No. 60 in the preseason rankings, got the day started by pairing up with freshman Madeline Meredith for the first time to take down Louisiana Tech's Chen and de la Luz 8-5. The fourth-seeded single then made the quick switch to the singles courts where she defeated Rikeetha Pereira of Southern Miss 6-0, 6-0.
In her second singles match of the day, Russo jumped out to another 6-0 advantage before falling 5-7 in the second game. The Deerfield Beach, Fla. product then battled back with a 6-3 win in the final set to take the match and advance to the round of 16.
Russo will face Alabama's Smith Hinton tomorrow at Noon CT in that round.
Also advancing to the round of 16 in doubles are Jaeda Daniel and Caroline Turner, who defeated Ole Miss' Vrbenska and Jandric 8-6.
Daniel and Turner takes on Alabama's Pelletier and Hinton while Russo and Meredith will face Tulane's Alvaro and Atkinson tomorrow. Both matches begin at 8 am CT.
Mary Katherine Lewis advanced to the quarterfinals of the B draw in dominant fashion, winning 6-3, 6-2 over Stella Carra of McNeese State in the first round before taking down Tulane's Sophia Kurtz by a score of 6-1, 6-0.
Lewis, a native of Marietta, Ga., will face UAB's Sophie Dodds in the quarterfinals tomorrow at Noon CT.
Day two of the ITA Southern Regional begins with two rounds of doubles beginning at 8 am CT followed by a round of singles. Admission is free. For updates, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Auburn Individual Results
Main Draw Singles
Daniel (AUB) def. Alvaro (TUL) 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-0
Golovin (LSU) def. Daniel (AUB) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Meredith (AUB) def. Karaky (Troy) 6-2, 6-3
Brett (McNeese St.) def. Meredith (AUB) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Russo (AUB) def. Pereira (So. Miss) 6-0, 6-0
Russo (AUB) def. Lorenzo (La Tech) 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
Turner (AUB) def. Herlina (Troy) 6-1, 6-4
Andrei (ULM) def. Turner (6-3, 6-0)
Back Draw Singles
Lewis (AUB) def. Carra (McNeese St.) 6-3, 6-2
Lewis (AUB) def. Kurtz (TUL) 6-1, 6-0
Main Draw Doubles
Daniel/Turner (AUB) def. Vrbenska/Jandric (Ole Miss) 8-6
Russo/Meredith (AUB) def. Chen/de la Luz (La Tech) 8-5