University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Women's tennis has success at ITA Regionals
10/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
LAS VEGAS – At the annual ITA West Regionals, both Northern Colorado juniors Jill Kappel and Jennifer Whateley won their opening round matches, as did the freshman doubles duo of Elizabeth Tapia and Stephanie Catlin.
“This was the first year I decided to take more players,” said Head Coach Brenda Vlasak. “I truly felt like it was a good choice. These young ladies got to see where that next level is and how hard we are going to have to work together as a team to get there. Whateley and Kappel really stepped up their singles play this tournament and proved that they can compete with anyone out there. Catlin/Tapia are a young but promising doubles duo who fight like heck and really understand the concept of doubles. I am proud of our performance and feel like our team got some great experience and now we can go home and get to work so we can come out strong in our spring play.”
Kappel defeated Ashley Bonner from New Mexico in a three-set thriller. She won the opening set 6-4 before Bonner bounced back to win the next set 6-2, but Kappel got several breaks of serve to win the final set 6-2. She met up with sixth-seeded Veronica Popovici from Wyoming in the second round, falling 6-0, 6-1. In the consolation round, Kappel lost 7-5, 6-2 to Idaho's Lozano.
Whateley opened the tournament with a straight sets victory over Lauren Keller of Utah, 6-2, 6-3 before she lost to New Mexico's Kristen Eggleston 6-1, 6-4 in the second round. Whateley also lost to Montana's A. Bran 6-1, 6-2 in the consolation rounds.
Tapia and Catlin won an exciting 9-7 set over Utah State in the opening round before dropping an 9-4 set to a pair from Denver.
The tournament concludes the fall season for the women's tennis team.
Jill Kappel
First Round: Kappel def. Ashley Bonner, New Mexico, 6-4, 2-6,
6-2
Second Round: #6 Veronica Popovici, Wyoming def. Kappel, 6-0,
6-1
First Round Consolation: Lozano, Idaho def. Kappel, 7-5, 6-2
Jenny Whateley
First Round: Whateley def. Lauren Keller, Utah, 6-2, 6-3
Second Round: Kristen Eggleston, New Mexico def. Whateley, 6-1,
6-4
First Round Consolation: A Bran, Montana def. Whateley, 6-1,
6-2
Stephanie Catlin
First Round Consolation: Tanner, Utah def. Catlin, 6-4, 6-4
Elizabeth Tapia
First Round Consolation: Caitlin Fluegge, Colorado State def.
Tapia, 6-3, 6-1
Jill Kappel/Jenny Whateley
First Round: Basil/Edwards, Boise State def. Kappel/Whateley,
8-2
First Round Consolation: Perry/Tuakufu, Utah State def.
Kappel/Whateley, 8-3
Elizabeth Tapia/Stephanie Catlin
First Round: Tapia/Catlin def. Swensen/West, Utah State, 9-7
Second Round: Schnell/Dunn, Denver def. Tapia/Catlin, 8-4
