The Universiy of Kansas women’s tennis team was impressive during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Regional Championships, held Nov. 1-5 at the Hanscom Indoor Tennis Center in Omaha, Neb.
KU junior Cheryl Mallaiah and senior Monica Sekulov advanced to the third round of singles competition. Mallaiah, seeded 13th in the tournament, defeated Lindsay Ferrell of Brigham Young, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-4, in the second round. Mallaiah then fell to fourth-seeded Alena Jecminkova of Kansas State in the third round, 6-2, 6-1.
Sekulov, the 14th seed, knocked off Nebraska’s Ndali Ijomah in the second round, 6-4, 6-3, before falling to third-seeded Alexsandra Durska of Tulsa, 6-2, 6-4.
The doubles squads of Emily Haylock/Kim Loranz and Lisa Mallaiah/Courtney Steinbock both advanced to the third round of the doubles championships. Haylock and Lorenz capped their run by dropping 11th-seeded Cassie Kasteler and Brooke Wilkinson of Utah, 8-6. They almost beat a seeded team for the second round in a row, but fell to eighth-seeded Melissa Mendieta and Viviana Mracnova of Oklahoma, 9-7.
Mallaiah and Steinbock soundly defeated their two opening opponents before dropping an 8-6 decision to fourth-seeded Brooke Ferney and Jodi Richardson of BYU.
The ITA Central Regional Championships wrap up the Kansas women’s tennis team’s fall season. KU will return to action on Feb. 3, 2001, when the Jayhawks will host Utah.
Monica Sekulov: def Ndali Ijomah (Nebraska), 6-4, 6-3; lost to Alena Jecminkova (Kansas State), 6-2, 6-1.
Cheryl Mallaiah: def. Lindsay Ferrell (Brigham Young), 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 6-4; lost to Alexsandra Durska (Tulsa), 6-2, 6-4.
Courtney Steinbock: lost to Alena Jecminkova (KSU), 6-0, 6-2.
Emily Haylock-Lim Lorenz: def. Kristin Gyaki-Courtney Lesse (Iowa State), 8-4; def. Cassie Kasteler-Brooke Wilkinson (Utah), 8-6; lost to Melissa Mendieta-Viviana Mracnova (Oklahoma), 9-7.
Lisa Mallajah-Courtney Steinbock: def. Sonja Hansson-Catherine Sullivan (Colorado State), 8-1; def. Jessica Fergeson-Catlin Thompson (Utah), 8-4; lost to Brooke Ferney-Jodi Richardson (BYU), 8-4.
Cheryl Mallaiah-Monica Sekulov: def. Richelle Fergeson-Sarah Lowe (Utah State), 8-2; def. Dominika Olszewska-Erin Pauchnik (Oklahoma State), 8-6; lost to Jemina Hayward-Anna Oehme (Boise State), 8-4.
