WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winthrop women's tennis competed against the area's top talent at the ITA Carolina Regional Championship Friday through Sunday, hosted by Wake Forest University.
 
Senior Alisa Soloveva faced a tall task in the first round of the main draw, taking on the No. 40 player in the nation, fifth-seeded Alana Smith of NC State. Soloveva jumped out to a strong start, taking the first set 6-1, but Smith bounced back with a 6-4 second set. Smith escaped with a tiebreaker 7-6 victory in the third set to take the opening round match and went to become a quarterfinalist in the event.
 
In doubles play, Soloveva and partner Rafaela Santos knocked off the ninth-seeded pair in the tournament, Duke's Margaryta Bilokin and Hannah Zhao, to advance out of the opening round. After a round of 32 win over Western Carolina's duo, the Eagles' run ended in the Round of 16 against fifth-seeded Megan Davies and Mia Horvit of South Carolina.
 
In the qualifying draw, fighting for position in the main draw, Tayla Van Eck posted an opening win over fellow Big South player Daniela Naupari of Gardner-Webb but was edged in the next round by the top seed in qualifying, Pierina Imparato of Charlotte.
 
The Eagles have one tournament remaining in their fall slate, the CofC Classic in Charleston, S.C. Nov. 1-3.
 
 
FULL RESULTS
Singles – Main Draw
First Round
Alana Smith (NC State) def. Alisa Soloveva, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
 
Singles - Consolation
Gabriela Martinez Asensi (South Carolina) def. Soloveva 7-5, 6-3
 
Singles – Qualifying
First Round
Tayla Van Eck (Winthrop) def. Daniela Naupari (Gardner-Webb) 7-6(2), 6-3
Maggie Pate (Furman) def. Samantha Nanere (Win) 6-2, 6-4
Laura Marti (Clemson) def. Rafaela Santos (Win) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
 
Second Round
Pierina Imparato (Charlotte) def. Van Eck 6-4, 6-3
 
Singles – B1 Draw
Kiana Rizzolo (Elon) def. Angela Georgieva (Win) 6-3, 6-1
 
Singles – B1 Draw Consolation
Georgieva def. Alexandra Hildell (Wofford) 6-4, 5-7, 10-2
Sandra Anglesjo (App State) def. Georgieva 4-6, 6-1, 10-7
 
Extra Ad-Hoc Friday Matches
Van Eck def. Katie Thompson (Presbyterian) 6-1, 6-1
Lou Regen (Campbell) def. Nanere 7-6(5), 6-4
Santos def. Flaminia Scara, 7-6(2), 6-1
 
Extra Ad-Hoc Saturday Matches
Soloveva def. Jaeda Daniel (NC State) 6-3, 6-4
Samantha Armas (Davidson) def. Van Eck 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 10-8
Nanere def. Alexandra Abele (Davidson) 6-0, 6-3
Santos def. Iryna Vardanian (Coastal Carolina) 7-5, 6-7(2), 10-6
 
DOUBLES
Main Draw
First Round
Santos/Soloveva def. Bilokin/Zhao (Duke) 8-1
Galvin/Shiau (Elon) def. Georgieva/Van Eck 8-4
 
Round of 32
Santos/Soloveva def. Elliott/Strickland (Western Carolina) 8-2
 
Round of 16
Davies/Horvit (South Carolina) def. Santos/Soloveva 8-4
 
Doubles Consolation Ad-Hoc
Thompson/Taylor (Presbyterian) def. Georgieva/Van Eck 8-2