WACO, Texas – The UTSA women’s tennis’ duo of Cassie McLay and Aleksandra Zlatarova highlighted a successful ITA Texas Regionals showing on Oct. 12-16 as the pair made a strong run to the semifinals in doubles action.
Zlatarova and McLay opened up doubles action by defeating Texas A&M’s Kayal Gownder and Avery Esquivel by 8-1. In the round of 32, the pair faced Malaika Rapolu and Vivian Ovrootsky, the third-seeded duo from Texas, defeating them by 8-3.
The duo continued to roll through the draw as they took down Houston’s duo of Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Nina Skoric, 8-4. In the quarterfinals, the pair defeated Texas A&M’s Lizanne Boyer and Gianna Pielet by 8-2. Zlatarova and McLay battled through two sets with Texas Tech’s Metka Komac and Avelina Sayfetdinova in the semifinal round but ultimately fell by sets of 3-6 and 2-6.
The duo of Ekua Youri and Fatima Gutierrez battled to the last point against Tarleton’s Emma Persson and Ximena Araneda Morales, but fell by 7(5)-8 in the round of 64. In the consolation round, the pair retired to Houston’s Laura Slisane and Maria Dzemeshkevich.
Freshman Vittoria Baccino and sophomore Gutierrez found success in the qualifying draw of singles action. Baccino took down North Texas’ Lilly Schultz in three sets (6-3, 2-6, 6-1), while Gutierrez defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s Palina Saulevich by 7-5 and 6-3 in the first round. In the second round, Baccino defeated ACU’s Olivia Sears by both sets of 6-3 and Gutierrez defeated Texas A&M’s Gownder by 6-2 and 6-1, both Roadrunners moving up to the main draw.
Despite falling in the first round of the qualifying draw, Youri and McLay both collected wins in the consolation round. Youri defeated Masha Vrsalovic of ACU in three sets (6-2, 4-6, 10-6), while McLay defeated Texas’ Maddy MacNeille by sets of 6-2 and 6-0.
In the main draw, Gutierrez kept her streak going as she won her matches in the round of 64 and 32, defeating UTA’s Ana Paula Jimenez and Baylor’s Sierra Berry along the way. Baccino fell to Rice’s Divna Ratkovic by sets of 4-6 and 3-6. Also in the main draw, Zlatarova fell to Texas Tech’s Andreea Lila by 0-6 and 4-6.
Moving to the consolation round, Baccino defeated Texas Tech’s Yekaterina Dmitrichenko in three sets (6-2, 1-6, 10-8). She then won by withdrawal in the round of 16. The freshman fell to Gianna Pielet of Texas A&M by set scores of 3-6 and 6(2)-7 in the quarterfinals. Zlatarova defeated North Texas’ Carolina Laydner, 6-2 and 6-0. The senior battled through three sets but fell in the round of 16 to Rice’s Chie Kezuka (6-2, 5-7, 8-10).
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will compete in Sam Houston’s Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville, Texas, on Oct. 27-29.
- UTSA -