TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The IUP women’s tennis team opened competition at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with four Crimson Hawks representing the program in singles and doubles action.
IUP’s contingent of Ifigeneia Kafka, Charliz Tabili, Chia Ying Lu and Asel Calbay competed against some of the top players in NCAA Division II, highlighted by a doubles victory from Lu and Calbay.
Lu and Calbay earned a victory over Angelo State’s Benedetta Raggiotti and Margaux Rene, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). The Crimson Hawks duo claimed the opening set convincingly before securing the match in a second-set tiebreaker.
In another doubles matchup, Tabili and Kafka battled Amelie Gindl and Laura Cuesta Bret of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The IUP pairing dropped a tightly contested match, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Kafka also represented the Crimson Hawks in singles competition, falling to Madeline Peisley of Ferris State, 6-3, 6-2.
Each singles competitor and doubles team is guaranteed three matches during the national tournament, providing additional opportunities to compete against some of the top players in Division II.
Kafka will return to singles action Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m. against Anouk Oderkerk of Thomas Jefferson University at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center.
Lu and Calbay will also return to doubles competition Thursday, facing the fourth-seeded pairing of Ayaka Koga and Mei Hasegawa at 2:30 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center.
The Crimson Hawks will continue competition in Tuscaloosa as they look to build on their opening-day performances against nationally recognized opponents.
