Oct. 19, 2012

TULSA, Okla. – Kansas freshman Maria Jose Cardona made her ITA Regional Championships debut in an impressive fashion by advancing to the round of 16 in the tournament’s main singles draw Friday at the University of Tulsa.  

Cardona defeated Nebraska’s Makie Zeppernick, 7-6(6), 6-1, in the opening round before bouncing back from one set down to beat Sarah McClean of Arkansas in round two, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. She faces Wichita State’s Lucia Kovalova in the round of 16 at 1 p.m. Saturday. 

All other Jayhawks have been eliminated from ITA Regional play in both singles and doubles. Sophomore Maria Belen Ludueña won her first round match over Izabella Zgierska of Nebraska, 6-1, 6-0 before falling to Oklahoma’s Whitney Ritchie in round two, 6-2, 7-6(5).

Cardona and Ludueña advanced past the first round of the main doubles draw by defeating Wichita State’s Rebecca Pedrazzi and Carla Venticinque, 8-1. But their tournament run ended when they fell to top-seeded Kanyapat Narrattana and Malika Rose of Oklahoma State in round two, 8-5.

Senior Monica Pezzotti and junior Dylan Windom, the nation’s No. 25-ranked doubles team, fell in their first match on Friday to Melanie Delsart and Anastacia Simons of Southern Illinois, 8-6, after receiving a first-round bye.

Pezzotti lost both of her Friday singles matches—the first to Steff Hollis of Saint Louis in round one, 6-2, 6-0, and the second in the consolation draw to Iowa’s Shelby Talcott, 6-0, 6-1.

For complete tournament information, please stay tuned to the ITA Regionals Tournament Central page. 

Day Two Results for ITA Regionals

Doubles

Round One

Ludueña/Cardona (KU) def. Rebecca Pedrazzi/Carla Venticinque (WSU) 8-1

Round Two

Delsart/Simons (SIU) def. Windom/Pezzotti (KU) 8-6

Rose/Narrattana (OSU) def. Ludueña/Cardona (KU) 8-5 

Singles

Round One

Cardona (KU) def. Zeppernick (Neb.) 7-6(6), 6-1

Ludueña (KU) def. Zgierska (Neb.) 6-1, 6-0

Hollis (SLU) def. Pezzotti (KU) 6-2, 6-0

Round Two

Cardona (KU) def. McClean (Ark.) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1

Ritchie (OU) def. Ludueña (KU) 6-2, 7-6(5)

Talcott (Iowa) def. Pezzotti (KU) 6-0, 6-1

Main Singles Draw 

Consolation Singles Draw 

Main Doubles Draw 

Consolation Doubles Draw