KEARNEY, NE – On the first day of play from the 2023 ITA Division II Women’s National Team Indoor Championship, eight of the top teams from across the country battled it out at the Earnest Grundy Tennis Center for a spot into the National Semifinals.
Kicking things off with the first match of the day, third-seeded Saint Leo faced off against sixth-seeded Flagler in a battle of two South and Southeast Region powerhouses.
In doubles, the Lions had to rely on two tiebreak victories on courts one and three after Flagler won the match on court two. The clinch for Saint Leo came from court one as Marta Vicens Miquel and Lavinia Lancellotti grinded out a 7-6 (6) victory to give the Lions the lead heading into singles play.
Not backing down easily, Flagler earned two straight set victories in singles to match the two straight set singles victories by Saint Leo to push the score to 3-2 with the remaining matches on courts one and three in back-and-forth battles.
It was Luzia Obermeier who secured Saint Leo’s spot into the Semifinals after a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Dana Heimen to finish out the nearly three and a half hour battle.
North Georgia (7) and Central Oklahoma (2) were the next two teams to square off in the opening round as the Bronchos looked to make another deep run in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
For the Nighthawks, they were able to get off to a fast start in doubles play, taking matches on courts two and three to push them ahead moving into singles play.
In singles, North Georgia continued to ride the momentum from doubles, upsetting the second-seeded Bronchos after earning straight set victories on courts one, three, and five.
The victory secured North Georgia’s spot into the Semifinal where they are set to matchup against Saint Leo at 11 am (CT) tomorrow.
In the late afternoon match, Hawaii Pacific (5) matched up against UIndy (4) in what would be one of three 4-0 victories on the opening day of play.
Beginning with doubles, the Sharks earned a 6-1 victory on court two before clinching the doubles point with a 7-5 win oon court one.
With all of the momentum now in their favor, Hawaii Pacific earned another quick point after a medical retirement on court four, before quickly sealing the victory with straight set wins on courts two and three.
Closing out the night was Barry (1) and hosts Nebraska Kearney (8) who went toe-to-toe for a much closer match than the scoreline depicted.
After falling on court three, the Bucs responded quickly in doubles, winning 6-3 on court two and 6-4 on court one to head into singles with the lead and momentum in front of lively Kearney fanbase in attendance.
Finishing strong, Barry was able to secure their spot into the Semifinals after winning in straight sets on courts one, three, and six to cement the matchup against Hawaii Pacific (5) tomorrow evening.
The Semifinals will commence tomorrow from the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center with play begging at 8:00 am (CT) when Central Oklahoma (2) and Flagler (6) face off. Be sure to keep up with all of the action through the ITA Social Media streams across Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
First Round — Friday, February 24
- 8:00 am (CT) – Saint Leo University (3) def. Flagler College (6), 4-2
- 12:10 pm (CT) – University of North Georgia (7) def. University of Central Oklahoma (2), 4-0
- 3:05 pm (CT) – Hawaii Pacific University (5) def. University of Indianapolis (4), 4-0
- 5:45 pm (CT) – Barry University (1) def. University of Nebraska, Kearney (8), 4-0
