Sooners Finish Day One at Regionals

STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma women's tennis player Zita Engbroks advanced to the main singles draw of the USTA/ITA Central Regional Championships by winning two matches Thursday in the qualifying round.

The junior from Weeze, Germany rolled by Kali Donner of SIU-Edwardsville in the first round of qualifying, 6-1, 6-0. In the second round, she defeated Alexis Czapinski of Kansas 6-1, 3-6, 10-4. Super breakers are being used in lieu of a third set, with the first to 10 points winning the match.

“Zita played some very solid tennis for three sets,” said head coach David Mullins. “She then lost a little bit of focus before rebounding in the super breaker.”

Engbroks joins senior Abbi Melrose, sophomore Morgan Chumney and freshmen Christiana Brigante and Lily Miyazaki in the main singles draw, which begins play Friday.

Sooner sophomore Ann Pepper wasn't able to advance out of the qualifying rounds. Pepper won her opening round match against Andrada Gordon of Oral Roberts 6-0, 6-3 before losing her second round match to Maria Alvarez of Oklahoma State 7-5, 6-2.

Junior Emma Devine and freshmen Malene Stripp and Brooke Withrow were also unable to advance out of qualifying. Stripp and Withrow both won their consolation matches. Stripp defeated Lucia Kovalova of Wichita State 7-6 (2), 2-6, 11-9, while Withrow defeated Melania Jaglarz of Drake 6-0, 6-2.

“We are hoping to see some very aggressive doubles tomorrow,” said Mullins. “In singles, we just want our players to really enjoy the process of competing and trust in their games and the work they have put in.”

Play at the regional championships, held at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., will resume at 9 a.m. Friday. One round of doubles and two rounds of singles will be played. Both the singles and doubles main draws will begin play.

Players Mentioned

Christiana Brigante

Emma Devine

Zita Engbroks

Abbi Melrose

Lily Miyazaki

Ann Pepper

Malene Stripp

Brooke Withrow

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University of Oklahoma Athletics