Sept. 19, 2009
MIDLAND, Texas - Texas A&M freshman Nazari Urbina picked up two victories today to advance to the semifinals in the singles bracket at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational.
Urbina defeated Julie Chao of Rice, 6-0, 6-2, and then got a hard-fought victory over 47th-ranked and No. 2 seed Pichittra Thongdach of Boise State, 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (6) in the quarterfinals.
"Nazari did a great job to came away with the big win," A&M coach Bobby Kleinecke said. "She doesn't get rattled and makes people beat her. She's only a freshman and is learning the college game, and she is off to a great start."
Urbina will take on No. 110 Mary Weatherholt of Nebraska Sunday for the chance to advance to the championship match.
Urbina also will be playing in the semifinals in doubles with partner Sheri Olivier. The Aggie duo defeated Pepperdine's Anamika Bhargava and Maria Zalameda in the round of 16 and downed Ana Guzman and Jessica Jackson of Rice, 8-5, in the quarterfinals.
Lauren Santacroce and Davidson were eliminated in the doubles round of 16 after falling to Kayla Duncan and Megan Alexander of TCU, 8-3.
Olivier and Christina Amo also picked up two straight-set wins apiece today to advance to the semifinals in the consolation bracket. Olivier topped Ashley Akin of North Texas, 6-0, 6-1, and Becca Lin of Rice, 6-4, 6-4, to advance. Amo downed Claudia Hidalgo of SMU, 6-4, 6-2, and then defeated teammate Lauren Santacroce, 7-5, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Santacroce had defeated Idunn Hertzbert of TCU, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (1) in the consolation round of 16 before falling to Amo.
In other consolation action, A&M's Ashley Turpin were both eliminated in the consolation round of 16. Davidson fell to Bianca Jochimsen of Boise State, 7-5, 6-2, and Turpin dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision to Becca Lin of Rice.
The tournament concludes Sunday with the semifinal and championship matches.
Day 2 Results
Singles Round of 16
Nazari Urbina (TAMU) def. Julie Chao (Rice), 6-0, 6-2
Singles Quarterfinals
Nazari Urbina (TAMU) def. (#47) Pichittra Thongdach (Boise St), 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (6)
Singles Consolation - Round of 16
Bianca Jochimsen (Boise St) def. Stephanie Davidson (TAMU), 7-5, 6-2
Christina Amo (TAMU) def. Claudia Hidalgo (SMU), 6-4, 6-2
Lauren Santacroce (TAMU) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU), 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (1)
Sheri Olivier (TAMU) def. Ashley Akin (UNT), 6-0, 6-1
Becca Lin (Rice) def. Ashley Turpin (TAMU), 6-2, 6-3
Singles Consolation - Quarterfinals
Christina Amo (TAMU) def. Lauren Santacroce (TAMU), 7-5, 6-2
Sheri Olivier (TAMU) def. Becca Lin (Rice), 6-4, 6-4
Doubles - Round of 16
Urbina/Olivier (TAMU) def. Bhargava/Zalameda (Pepperdine), 8-6
Santacroce/Davidson (TAMU) def. Colffer/Walters (Pepp), 8-6
Doubles - Quarterfinals
Urbina/Olivier (TAMU) def. Guzman/Jackson (Rice), 8-5
Duncan/Alexander (TCU) def. Santacroce/Davidson, 8-3
Doubles - Consolation Round of 16
Amo/Turpin (TAMU) def. Malyarchikova/Hatamova (SMU), Default
Doubles - Consolation Quarterfinals
Shiva-Shankar/Lin (Rice) def. Amo/Turpin (TAMU), 8-2