Beach Tennis Opens Play at ITA Southwest Regionals

Thursday, October 21

San Diego, Calif.

All Day

Long Beach State University

ITA Southwest Regionals

10/21/2021 7:25:00 PM | Women's Tennis

LBSU Tennis opened play at the ITA Southwest Regionals on Thursday.

By: Michael Abbott, Athletic Communications Assistant

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - LBSU Tennis opened competition at the ITA Southwest Regionals at the Barnes Tennis Center on Thursday, with Zuzanna Szczepanska and a doubles pair advancing to the second round.

"On a whole we competed well today, but came up short in a few sets" said Head Coach Jenny Hilt-Costello. "We are learning and improving with each match as we move forward."

Szczepanska earned a win in the round of 128 Friday morning. The Inowroclaw, Poland native battled to a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Big West opponent Jacqueline O'Neill of CSUN. She followed that win with a gutsy performance in the round of 64, battling to the wire with the No. 17 seed in the tournament, Marianna Argyrokastriti of ASU, but came up just short 7-6 (4), 6-0.

Zara Lennon was also in action in singles play, and her match went to three sets. After dropping a close first set 7-5, Lennon battled back and won the second 6-3, before falling just short in the decisive third set 7-5. Also in singles play Claire Le Du went toe-to-toe with her opponent, Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik of LMU, but came up just short, falling 7-6(5), 6-2. Sheena Masuda also dropped a back-and-forth contest, 6-3, 7-6(7). In her match, Arina Babkova fell in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 to Victoria Kalaitzis of San Diego. Nikola Homolkova also battled throughout her match with Savannah Broadus of Pepperdine, but came up short, falling 6-3, 6-3.

As for doubles Lennon and Masuda earned an opening round win in dominant fashion, 6-2 over Ballbe-Gonzalez and Janikian of UC Santa Barbara. They will play in the second round on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Also in doubles action Homolkova and Le Du dropped a back-and-forth match 6-4, while Babkova and Szczepanska also fell 6-1 in their matchup.

Action at the ITA Southwest Regionals will continue Friday with doubles play beginning at 8:30 a.m. and singles play resuming shortly after that.

Thursday's Results
Singles:
Zuzanna Szczepanska (LBSU) def. Jacqueline O'Neill (CSUN) 7-6 (3), 6-4
Marianna Argyrokastriti (ASU) def. Zuzanna Szczepanska (LBSU) 7-6 (4), 6-0
Filippa Bruu-Syversen (UCSB) def. Zara Lennon (LBSU) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Taylor Johnson (UCLA) def. Sheena Masuda (LBSU) 6-3, 7-6(7)
Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik (LMU) def. Claire Le Du (LBSU) 7-6(5), 6-2
Savannah Broadus (Pepperdine) def Nikola Homolkova (LBSU) 6-3, 6-3
Victoria Kalaitzis (San Diego) def. Arina Babkova (LBSU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles:
Lennon/Masuda (LBSU) def. Ballbe-Gonzalez/Janikian (UCSB) 6-2
Wilkins/ Ziouti (U of A) def. Homolkova/Le Du (LBSU) 6-4
Iamachkine/Redelijk (Pepperdine) def. Babkova/Szczepanska (LBSU) 6-1