CARY, N.C. – Louisiana Tech's Zoie Epps proved that she belongs on the national stage as the junior turned in an impressive showing this week at the ITA All-American Championships at Cary Tennis Park.
 
The Norman, Oklahoma native reeled off three straight wins in pre-qualifying to be one of 20 players to advance to the qualifying draw.  Needing two wins to get to the main draw, Epps suffered a pair of close loses to round out her competition.
 
Facing Dariya Radulova (graduate transfer from Virginia Tech now playing at Portland) in the opening round, Epps had full control of the match.  She got up 5-2 in the first set and was able to hang on at 6-4.  She got up 4-1 again in the second set and did not let off the gas, winning it 6-2.
 
Next up was a matchup against No. 9 seed Kristyna Lavickova of Florida State.  There was no intimidation as Epps played ahead much of the match, ultimately winning 6-2, 6-3.
 
Needing one more victory to advance to the qualifying draw, Epps would have to defeat No. 21 seed Nevena Kolarevic who is the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year from Fordham.  This was a completely different match was Epps lost the first 10 points, getting down big at 5-0. 
 
However, Epps flipped a switch and proceeded to win 13 straight games while also fighting off several set points to win going away 7-5, 6-0. 
 
She drew the No. 12 seed and the 71st-ranked player in the country Daianne Hayashida of Iowa in the opening round.  After dropping the first set 6-2, Epps rebounded to get up 5-4 in the second.  She was two points away from forcing a third, but Hayashida held serve and won two more games to take it 7-5.
 
Epps had one more opportunity at the ITA All-Americans, facing Vanesa Suarez of Tennessee (ranked 121st in the nation) in the consolation bracket.  She got up 4-3 after breaking at love, but Suarez won three straight games to take the first set 6-4.
 
The Bulldog had some unfortunate luck in the second set, dropping five straight games all on deciding deuce points to go down 5-1.  However, in pure Epps fashion, she refused to give up winning six straight games while fighting off two match points to win the second set 7-5.
 
Epps got up early in the third, taking a 4-1 lead, but Suarez countered by winning six of the next seven games to win it 7-5.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
"Zoie has earned her place at the ITA All-Americans through nothing less than relentless grit, tireless hard work, and an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of herself.  Our journey together has been built on trust, resilience, and a shared belief in embracing challenges as opportunities."
 
"This week, she did not just step into the spotlight, she seized it.  Battling through pre-qualifying and defeating P4 players was not a stroke of luck – it was the result of her will, determination, and pure drive to win.  I am beyond proud of her fight, her coachability, and her trust in LA Tech to help her rise to the next level.  Zoie has already proven she belongs amongst the very best in college tennis and her future promises to be nothing short of extraordinary."
 
RESULTS
Pre-Qualifying Draw
Zoie Epps def. Dariya Radulova (Portand) 6-4, 6-2
Zoie Epps def. [9] Kristyna Lavickova (Florida State) 6-2, 6-3
Zoie Epps def. [21] Nevena Kolarevic (Fordham) 7-5, 6-0
Qualifying Draw
Zoie Epps lost to [12] Daianne Hayashida (Iowa) 6-2, 7-5
Zoie Epps lost to Vanesa Suarez (Tennessee) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
 
UP NEXT
Epps and the Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Abilene, Texas to compete in the ACU Invitational, hosted by Abilene Christian.
 
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