TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The IUP women's tennis team continued competition at the ITA Division II National Championships on Thursday, with the Crimson Hawks competing in three tightly contested matches, including a pair of doubles contests decided by tiebreakers.

In singles action, Ifigeneia Kafka battled Anouk Oderkerk of Thomas Jefferson University in a three-set match. Kafka dropped the opening set, 6-3, before responding with a 6-3 victory in the second set to force a decisive third. Oderkerk ultimately prevailed, taking the final set, 6-4, to secure the victory.

In doubles competition, Chia Ying Lu and Asel Calbay faced fourth-seeded Ayaka Koga and Mei Hasegawa of Central Oklahoma. The Crimson Hawks pushed the nationally seeded duo to tiebreakers in both sets before falling, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-1).

The IUP pairing of Charliz Tabili and Kafka also battled in a three-set doubles contest against Washburn University's Jasel Bailey and Saajida Razick. Tabili and Kafka claimed the opening set, 6-4, before Washburn responded with a 7-6 victory in the second. The Washburn duo secured the match with a 10-5 victory in the deciding match tiebreaker.

Despite dropping all three matches Thursday, the Crimson Hawks remained competitive against some of the top players and doubles teams in NCAA Division II, with all three contests extending beyond straight-set victories without tiebreakers.

The ITA National Championships guarantee each singles competitor and doubles team three matches, allowing IUP's representatives to continue gaining experience against elite competition from across the country.

The Crimson Hawks will conclude their national championship appearances with their remaining matches in Tuscaloosa.