NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Over the course of three days at the SFA Invitational, the Louisiana Tech women's tennis team racked up several victories over four regional opponents at the Schlief Tennis Complex.
 
The top of the lineup was particularly impressive, starting with sophomore Ilana Tetruashvili who played at the No. 1 spot in singles and doubles, going 3-1 in each. 
 
Her doubles partner was freshman Alexia Romero who also registered a 3-1 mark in singles, playing at the No. 3 position.  And sophomore Ana Jover matched that singles performance with a 3-1 record of her own playing on court two.  She teamed up with freshman Rikona Murakama to go 2-2 in doubles.

"Coming into this tournament, I really wanted to see what we've been focusing on in practice translate into match play," said head coach Amanda Stone.  "We've been working hard on individual development in singles over the past few weeks and it has paid off, especially with the top of the lineup all going 3-1 in singles.

"One of the other highlights was the fight we showed up and down the lineup.  Every player had at least one match this weekend where they struggled, but was able to find a way to win.  It's very exciting to see that accountability showing this early.  I'm very proud and the team should be too."
 
Day one was very successful for LA Tech, winning 5-1 in singles over Prairie View A&M and defeating Texas State in doubles by a score of 2-1. 
 
That would be the only day that the Lady Techsters played with a full six-person lineup as sophomore Andrea Perez-Lopez suffered an injury during a doubles match that forced her to sit out the rest of the tournament.  Prior to the injury, she secured a 6-2, 6-3 win in singles over the Bobcats' Jessica Lackey at No. 5.  
 
Tetruashvili was stellar at the top position throughout the weekend.  In singles, she overpowered Jimena Duran Castelano of Prairie View A&M by a score of 6-1, 6-0, then outlasted Hana Kvapilova (Texas State) and Gabriela Guilarte (Stephen F. Austin) in third set superbreakers 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (5) and 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8), respectively.
 
In doubles, she and Romero partnered to defeat Texas State, Prairie View A&M and Stephen F. Austin with wins of 6-4, 6-3 and 7-6.
 
Meanwhile, Romero had perhaps her strongest showing of the fall.  After winning handily in straight sets over Prairie View A&M and Texas State, she won a marathon match over Yu Yue of Tyler Junior College, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (8). 
 
Jover had a setback in singles against Texas State, but fought to win two three-set matches against Prairie View A&M and Stephen F. Austin by scores of 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (6) and 6-1 5-7, 1-0 (11), respectively.  She was up 5-2 before her Tyler Junior College opponent retired, giving her the third victory.
 
The duo of Jover and Murakami defeated Lewis/Lewis of Texas State, 6-2, and Lackey/Duran of Prairie View A&M, 6-3, for their two doubles wins.
 
Murakami's lone singles victory came over Momoko Yoshimura of TJC, taking it in straight sets 7-6, 6-3.  Playing at No. 5 and No. 6 was Madison Cefalu who picked up a 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (4) win versus Anette Lira of Prairie View A&M.
 
The Lady Techsters will play their fourth and final fall tournament in Destin, Florida at the Tops'l Invitational which gets underway on Nov. 15.
 
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