GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Georgia Southern women's tennis wrapped up its Fall season over the weekend, competing at the ITA Regionals in Gainesville, Fla., hosted by the University of Florida.
Four Eagles represented Georgia Southern in singles and doubles action. The doubles duo of Sonja Keranen and Nanaka Kijima advanced to the main doubles draw after winning a pair of qualifying matches on Thursday, while the doubles duo of Ninon Martinache and Lindsay Tulenko advanced to the Round of 16 of the main doubles draw.
"I feel like we had a really good experience this year at ITA Regionals," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Any time you have a chance to face some of the best players in the country, we all are reminded what an opportunity we have. The Southeast is no doubt one of the strongest, if not the strongest, region in the NCAA and having the chance to match ourselves with them on the court, but also watch what they do and how they do things, really allows for our growth mindset to be completely engaged. And we were.
"I feel like Sonja, Lindsay, Ninon and Nanaka all benefited greatly from their wins and from their losses. I know in the future, we will have more involvement when we travel to ITAs and bring more of the team along as I feel it's one of those events that is incredibly impactful for all of us."
Georgia Southern results at the ITA Southeast Regionals
Singles
Sonja Keranen
lost to Nadejda Maslova (Stetson) 6-4, 6-3
lost to Maya Shanok (FAU) 6-2, 6-1
lost to Zali Morris (Stetson) 6-3, 6-4
Nanaka Kijima
lost to Carla Galmiche (FAU) 6-2, 7-6 (7)
def. Kendall Nash (UNF) 7-6 (5), 6-1
def. Anslee Long (UNF) 6-3, 6-3
lost to Jaleesa Leslie (UCF) 6-7 (3), 6-4, (10-8)
Ninon Martinache
lost to Sophia Biolay (UCF) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
def. Veronica Rodriguez (FAMU) 6-1, 6-0
Lindsay Tulenko
lost to Isabella Pfennig (Miami) 6-1, 6-3
lost to Melisa Senli (USF) 6-4, 4-6, (10-6)
Doubles
Sonja Keranen/Nanaka Kijima
def. Rakim/Whitelock (FAMU) 8-3
def. Nash/Makela (UNF) 8-5
lost to Davis/Kaplan (UNF) 8-5
Ninon Martinache/Lindsay Tulenko
def. Goldsmith/Norin (FGCU) 8-7 (2)
lost to Dahlstrom/Spee (UF) 8-3
