PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Wichita State's Julia Schiller and the doubles team of Lucia Kovalova and Rebecca Pedrazzi each took down nationally-ranked foes earlier this week at the ITA All-American Championships.
Schiller dropped her qualifying draw opener on Tuesday but bounced backed over the next day-and-a-half to beat two consolation opponents, including Stephanie Vlad of Arizona State (No. 46 in the ITA Division I Rankings).
Kovalova and Pedrazzi posted qualifying wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, including an upset of the No. 3 seed and 21st-ranked team of Wacnik/Borr from Boston College, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7, to advance to the third and final round of qualifying. They missed out on the main draw, falling to the Stanford combo of Tsay and Doyle (No. 40 nationally), 6-3, 6-4.
"This was a great experience for all three ladies. They were put under pressure by the best competition in the country, at a prestigious event, and performed well,” WSU head coach Colin Foster said. “Hopefully they learned a lot and gained some confidence going forward.”
Forward includes a trip to Des Moines this weekend for the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships.
“(This event) is always a great measuring stick for the conference,” Foster said. “As has been the case for several years in the Valley, we will get everyone's best shot."
WSU Results:
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Singles Qualifying – First Round
#59 Zoe Katz (USC) def. Julia Schiller (WSU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Singles Qualifying – Backdraw First Round
Julia Schiller (WSU) def. Dayna Lord (Brown) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Qualifying – First Round
Kovalova/Pedrazzi (WSU) def. [3] #21 Wacnik/Borr (Boston Col.), 6-2, 5-7, 10-7
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Singles Qualifying – Backdraw Second Round
Julia Schiller (WSU) def. #46 Stephanie Vlad (Arizona St.), 6-1,7-6(1)
Doubles Qualifying – Second Round
Kovalova/Pedrazzi (WSU) def. Jones/Miclat (BYU), 7-6(2), 7-5
Doubles Qualifying – Third Round (winners advance to main draw)
#40 Tsay/Doyle (Stanford) def. Kovalova/Pedrazzi (WSU), 6-3, 6-4
-Wichita State-
