No. 22 Marta Lesniak Advances To Quarterfinals At ITA

[ER9TC4]

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/w-tennis/recaps/101110aaa.html

LOS ANGELES (SMU) --- No. 22 Marta Lesniak advanced to the quarterfinal round of the ITA All-American Tennis Championships at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades. Lesniak's finish is the best for SMU tennis in the history of the event. Also, the No. 47 duo of Lesniak and Heather Steinbauer also advanced to the second round of the doubles qualifying stage.

"I am really excited for and proud of our performance," said head coach Lauren Longbotham Meisner. "Marta's hard work resulted in the best finish ever for a Mustang at the ITA All-American tournament. Then Marta and Heather defeated a top-25 opponent in just their fourth match as a team. This should give them a lot of confidence heading in the National Indoor Championships."

In singles, Lesniak defeated four ranked foes before falling in three sets to No. 7 Denise Dy from Washington 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4). Lesniak's topped No. 103 Whitney Taney from Michigan, Lucia Batta of UNLV, No. 77 Caroline Hitimana of Florida, No. 119 Rasalia Aldo from Tennessee and No. 20 Kristi Boxx of Mississippi en route to the quarterfinal.

Steinbauer, ranked No. 117, recorded a win in the pre-qualifying singles of Keri Frankenberger of LSU. Steinbauer then fell to Alex Cercone of Florida in the second round.

In doubles, the No. 47 team of Lesniak and Steinbauer def. No. 24 Anamika Bhargava and Marie Zalameda from Pepperdine 8-6 in the first round of the pre-qualifying stage. The tandem then fell 8-5 to Sanaa Bhambri and SandhyaNagaraj of N.C. State.

For complete draws and results, visit the Riviera All-American Tournament site at ITATennis.com.

Main Draw - Singles
1st Rnd (32) - No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. No. 119 Rosalia Alda (Tennessee) 6-1, 6-2
2nd Rnd (16) - No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. No. 20 Kristi Boxx (Mississippi) 6-4, 6-1
QF (8) - No. 7 Denise Dy (Washington) def. No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)

Qualifying - Singles
1st Rnd (64) - No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. No. 103 Whitney Taney (Michigan) 6-3, 6-4
2nd Rnd (32) - No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. Lucia Batta (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
3rd Rnd (16) - No. 22 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. No. 77 Caroline Hitimana (Florida) 6-3, 6-4

Pre-Qualifying - Singles
1st Rnd (64) - No. 86 Ecaterina Vasenina (South Florida) def. No. 109 Edyta Cieplucha (SMU) 7-5, 6-7, 7-5
1st Rnd (64) - No. 113 Christina Ngo (Georgia Tech) def. No. 95 Aleksandra Malyarchikova (SMU)
1st Rnd (64) - No. 117 Heather Steinbauer (SMU) def. Keri Frankenberger (LSU) 7-6 (7-1), 7-5
2nd Rnd (32) - Alex Cercone (Florida) def. No. 117 Heather Steinbauer (SMU) 7-5, 6-2

Qualifying - Doubles
1st Rnd (32) - No. 47 Marta Lesniak/Heather Steinbauer (SMU) def. No. 24 Anamika Bhargava/Marie Zalameda (Pepperdine) 8-6
2nd Rnd (16) - Sanaa Bhambri/SandhyaNagaraj (NC State) def. No. 47 Marta Lesniak/Heather Steinbauer (SMU) 8-0

Pre-Qualifying - Doubles
1st Rnd (32) - Shahzoda Hatamova/Edyta Cieplucha (SMU) def. Alexa Lee/Amy Markhoff (Cal Poly) 8-3
2nd Rnd (16) - Sanaa Bhambri/SandhyaNagaraj (NC State) def. Shahzoda Hatamova/Edyta Cieplucha (SMU) 8-5