Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

LA Tech Athletics

LA Tech Athletics

Events

Women's Tennis

LA Tech Closes ITA Regionals with Victories

Oct. 16, 2016

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Louisiana Tech tennis team wrapped up action at the ITA Southern Regionals hosted by the University of Alabama this weekend, highlighted by two semifinalists in doubles and two finalists in the back draw of singles.

The team finished the highly-competitive fall tournament with six singles victories and three doubles wins.

"Overall, I am really pleased with how we played throughout the tournament," head coach Amanda Stone said. "We had a rough start on Friday, but we showed great resilience coming back Saturday and Sunday by finishing strong. We had the opportunity to play some of the best teams in the country and were able to hold our own."

Jazmin Britos had the lone singles win in the A singles main draw with an impressive Round of 64 victory over Caroline Kelly of Mississippi State, 7-5, 6-1.

The bulk of the team's success came in the B section of singles and doubles, especially Sonia Chen and Haley Ballinger.

The duo teamed up to claim back-to-back 8-4 wins over Castella/Chen of Southern Miss in the Round of 16 and Sava/Delabarre of Louisiana-Lafayette in the quarterfinals before falling in the semis.

On the opposite of the same B main draw in doubles, Nadja Manjon and Alba Escalona Perny received a bye in the first round before cruising to an 8-0 win versus Ragon/Lynch of UAB in the quarterfinals. The tandem then suffered a hard-fought loss in a tiebreaker which would have advanced them into the finals.

After falling in the first round of the main draw in singles, Ballinger and Chen made the most of their second opportunity in the consolation bracket.

Ballinger delivered a 6-4, 6-1 win against Gen Vlanday (Jacksonville State) which was followed up by a marathon 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (10-6) victory versus Sofia Kurtz (Tulane) to reach the finals.

On the other side, Chen advanced past Malin Buechner of JSU who retired in the first set. The sophomore then came on top with a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-2) over Diana Monsalve, also of JSU, before disposing of Marian Rodriguez of Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the finals.

The two teammates did not play the finals, instead deciding to share the title of the B singles back draw.

LA Tech will conclude its fall season at the Missouri State Fall Tournament on Oct. 28-29.

For all the latest in LA Tech Tennis, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTEN), Instagram (@LATechTennis) and Facebook (LATechTennis) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sonia Chen

Sonia Chen

5' 7"
Sophomore
Nadja Manjon

Nadja Manjon

5' 10"
Freshman
Alba Escalona Perny

Alba Escalona Perny

5' 3"
Sophomore
Haley Ballinger

Haley Ballinger

5' 6"
Freshman
Jazmin Britos

Jazmin Britos

5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sonia Chen

Sonia Chen

5' 7"
Sophomore
Nadja Manjon

Nadja Manjon

5' 10"
Freshman
Alba Escalona Perny

Alba Escalona Perny

5' 3"
Sophomore
Haley Ballinger

Haley Ballinger

5' 6"
Freshman
Jazmin Britos

Jazmin Britos

5' 6"
Freshman