ROME, Ga. - Four Crimson Hawks competed on the first day of the 2021 ITA Cup at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia on Thursday. 

Both of IUP's doubles pairings dropped their first round matchups to higher seeds. Karolin Kirchtag and Katy Graydon, the Atlantic Region champs, fell to the No. 2-seeded team of Natalie Espinal and Chantal Nosievici of Nova Southeastern by scores of 6-3, 6-1. Natasha Munday and Joanna Stralka lost to the No. 4-seeded team of Valentina Gonzalez and Ena Ovcina from Angelo State by scores of 6-2, 6-2. 

Both pairings now fall to the 'West' draw for Friday matches. Munday and Stralka will play Stephenson and Waller from Ferris State at 1:30 p.m. Kirchtag and Graydon will face Chamoun and Spice from Newberry at 2:30 p.m.

Kirchtag also competed in the singles draw, where she fell to No. 4-seed Anna Novikova of Indianapolis 6-1, 6-2. Kirchtag is now in the 'West' singles draw and will face Taylor Leslie of Dallas Baptist at 9 a.m. on Friday.

At the ITA Cup, each player is guaranteed three matches, so action will continue for the Crimson Hawks through Saturday.

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