Doubles:
The Tribe went a combined 5-1 in doubles on Friday. The College’s top pairing of senior Katarina
Zoricic and junior Ragini Acharya – no. 20 in the ITA preseason doubles rankings – tallied 8-2 and 8-6 victories, while the team of senior Klaudyna Kasztelaniec and junior Lauren Sabacinski dropped their opening match 8-6 before rebounding with convincing 8-2 victory in the consolation round.
In the women’s ‘Flight B’ bracket the tandem of junior Carmen Pop and freshman Katie Kargl disposed of their competition 8-5 and 8-2.
Singles:
The Tribe’s ranked singles players, no. 94 Zoricic and no. 87 Acharya, both rolled to easy victories. Zoricic won 6-3, 6-1, and Acharya 6-3, 6-3
“Ragini is a very solid player,” Head Coach Meredith Geiger-Walton said “She establishes control of
the point very early on. Her strength is in her accuracy. There is no doubt that Ragini is going to be one of the top competitors in the country.”
Geiger-Walton also highlighted the play of Zoriric, noting her strong serve and powerful inside-out forehand pattern.
Tribe true freshman Maria Morrissey started her collegiate career by posting a 6-3, 6-1 win.
Juniors Pop and Sabacinski both fell in their opening singles matches of the season.
Looking ahead to Saturday:
Acharya will face no. 1 Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas at 11 a.m. at the Busch Courts. Miseviciute was 47-5 throughout last fall and spring and will provide an early test for Acharya.
Geiger-Walton said Zoricic would handle the one spot for the Tribe in team matches with Acharya at number two.
Check back tomorrow for a recap of day two of three from the invitational.