9/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 25, 2010
Arlington, Texas - The UT Arlington Mavericks closed out day two of the Sooner Fall Invitational in Norman, OK with several big wins in singles action and senior Monika Hadvigerova advancing to the singles D championship.
"This has been a great tournament for us as a whole," said Assistant Coach Marco Matteucci. "I am very happy with Monika's success and hope she will continue in her winning ways tomorrow in the finals. Up until now she has been very strong mentally and physically, it is great to have her back in shape and gaining confidence after a rough season last year."
Monika Hadvigerova and Giada D'ortona were the only two Mavericks placed in the same bracket. Hadvigerova opened day two on fire, advancing to the singles D championship against Anamaria Candanoza of Tulsa Sunday.
The senior's road to the championship started Friday when she defeated Cali Gustafson of DePaul and opened day two with a quarterfinal win against North Texas's Carolina Barboza, 6-0, 6-1. Hadvigerova closed out day two of the tournament with a straight set victory over Tulsa's Bonny Davidson, 6-0, 7-6.
Despite two losses in the consolation B bracket, Natalia Mayuk displayed resiliency and determination. In her two matches, the newcomer competed close to six hours in 90 degree heat. The junior opened the morning against Texas Tech's Samantha Adams but fell short in three sets, 6-7, 6-3 and 6-4.
With only a short amount of time to recover from her 2 hour and 45 minute match against Adams, Mayuk moved to the South bracket where she faced DePaul's Gia McKnight and battled for more than two hours falling short, 3-6, 6-4 and 6-4. Mayuk now moves to the Southeast bracket where she will go head-to-head against Tulsa's Meredith Burns.
"I' m extremely proud of how hard Natalia has played in this tournament," Matteucci said. "Despite the losses, she showed us that she will fight for every point till her last breath of air, giving her heart and soul to our women's program. I know if she continues on this path she will become a great player and an inspiration for our current and future players.
In the singles C bracket, Linda Aqvist took down Oklahoma State's Malika Rose easily in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 but came up short in the semifinals against Jade Frampton of Arkansas, 6-3, 6-1. With the setback, Aqvist moves to the Northeast bracket to face Wichita State's Veronika Blaskova.
"Linda had a great win today, her opponent Malika was a very talented junior player ranked in the top-30 in the US in the girls 18's. Linda is strategically playing better day by day and is showing us the caliber of players she will be able to beat down the road," added Matteucci.
Also in the singles D bracket, D'ortona didn't start off on the right foot, falling to North Texas's Amy Joubert, 6-1, 6-3 but rebounded in the North bracket winning a 6-1, 6-2 straight set against Valerie Brockman of Wichita State. The freshman will now face Oklahoma's Brittany Parks.
"Giada is a very coachable player. Every match she plays she is learning more and has such a big game. Once everything comes together she could become one of the best players we have on our team," Matteucci said.
Tomorrow the Mavericks will conclude singles and doubles action. Duo Mayuk and Aqvist earned a first round bye in the consolation bracket and will face Arkansas-Little Rock's Nathalia Garay and Veronique Luksich. Hadvigerova and D'ortona will face Wichita State's Valerie Brockman and DePaul's Samantha Kaneta.
