BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – IUP women's tennis continued its impressive run at the ITA Atlantic Region Tournament, placing three of the four semifinalists in singles and three of the four semifinalist teams in doubles.
Overall, the Crimson Hawks accounted for six of the eight semifinal spots across the singles and doubles championship draws, while IUP secured an all-Crimson Hawk doubles final with both parings qualifying for ITA Nationals.
IUP sent five players into the singles quarterfinals following strong performances in the Round of 32 and Round of 16.
Top-seeded Lea von Kozierowski continued her run through the bracket with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Galia Mezouar in the Round of 32. She followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Vitoria Maximiliano before defeating No. 6 seed Michelle Connor, 6-1, 6-3, in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.
No. 2 seed Asel Calbay battled through a three-set match against Lia-Sophie Seele in the Round of 32, earning a 3-6, 7-5, 10-6 victory. Calbay followed with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Arina Kryvenkova before rolling past Lauren Hayes, 6-1, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.
No. 12 seed Ifigeneia Kafka also earned a spot in the semifinals. Kafka defeated Tahnne Sesma Alvarez, 6-3, 6-3, in the Round of 32 before knocking off No. 3 seed Nicole Kempton in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Kafka then faced teammate and No. 16 seed Chia Ying Lu in the quarterfinals, advancing with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Lu reached the quarterfinals following a 6-2, 6-1 win over Dasha Nakonechna and a dominant 6-0, 6-2 upset of No. 7 seed Jingyi Liu.
No. 8 seed Charliz Tabili rounded out IUP's five singles quarterfinalists. Tabili defeated Gracie Clark, 6-4, 7-5, and Ana Musulin, 6-3, 6-0, before falling to No. 4 seed Pimlaphat Lim in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6.
IUP's success carried into the doubles semifinals, where three of the four remaining teams represented the Crimson Hawks.
No. 7 Kafka and Tabili faced teammates Elina Mondani and Hannah Beitat in one semifinal, earning an 8-2 victory to secure a spot in the championship match.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 Calbay and Lu battled No. 2 Nicole Kempton and Nadia Rodewald for the second spot in the final. Calbay and Lu came away with an 8-7 (11) victory, completing an all-IUP doubles championship matchup.
Kafka and Tabili will face Calbay and Lu for the ITA Atlantic Region doubles championship and a chance to advance to the ITA Cup.
IUP will also carry three players into the singles semifinals, with Von Kozierowski, Kafka and Calbay making up three of the final four players remaining in the draw.
