Oct. 24, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Hala Sufi advanced to the quarterfinals at the ITA Midwest Regionals on Sunday in Minneapolis. The sophomore, ranked 93rd nationally, has won three straight matches to make it to the final eight.
Sufi's win Sunday came at the expense of fifth-seeded and 88th-ranked Victoria Domina of Eastern Michigan. Sufi won 6-4, 6-3.
The prize for advancing is a match-up against top-seeded Audra Cohen of Northwestern, who won the ITA All-American singles title in her last event. The two will meet at the Baseline Tennis Center on the Minnesota campus at 11 a.m. Monday.
Sufi advanced to the round of 16 with two wins Saturday. In her first-round match, she outlasted Jane Anderson of Minnesota 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. She pulled out another three-set win in the second round, beating Kara Delicata of Michigan 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Of the five Boilermakers competing in the singles main draw, only Sufi and freshman Stephanie Wooten won their first-round matches. Wooten beat Kaylan Caiati of Wisconsin 6-1, 6-2, but lost 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 to Elizabeth Exon of Michigan in the round of 32.
Senior Shawna Zuccarini dropped her first-round match by a 6-3, 7-5 score to Leanne Rutherford of Michigan. Freshman Brooke Beier, who had to qualify for the main draw, fell to fourth-seeded Michelle DaCosta of Michigan in the first round, 7-5, 6-2. Senior Amy Walgenbach lost her first-round match to eighth-seeded Megan Racette of Iowa, 7-5, 6-3.
Beier and Walgenbach bounced back with consolation singles wins. Beier beat Christian Thompson of Notre Dame 6-3, 6-1. Walgenbach downed Andrea Yung of Northwestern 7-6, 6-3.
In doubles action Saturday, Sufi and Wooten dropped an 8-4 decision to Cohen and Cristelle Grier of Northwestern in the round of 16.
Complete results of the ITA Midwest Regional Championships can be found on gophersports.com. The tournament will continue through Tuesday.