Women’s tennis warms up with ITA regionals

The women’s tennis team commenced its fall season on Sept. 21 with the ITA Division II Women’s Central Regional Championships in Oklahoma, where one player earned a bid to the ITA championship. 

Senior Florentia Hadjigeorgiou’s second-place finish at the regional tournament earned her a spot in the ITA Cup, which occurred in Rome, Georgia, from Oct. 12-16. The championships included the top 16 players in the nation. 

On Oct. 12, Hadjigeorgiou fell in the first round of the division II women’s open singles to Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Emily Hafner, scoring 4-6 and 3-6. 

Hadjigeorgiou lost to Texas A&M University’s Alessa Maier in three sets in the west quarterfinals, scoring 6-1, 0-6 and 1-6. 

The Vikings began practice this fall on Sept. 5, a little more than two weeks before they traveled to regionals. Universities who started classes before Augustana had more practice time before the tournament. 

“That quick turnaround from not playing that much in the summer to all of a sudden, two weeks after we start school, having the biggest tournament of the fall, that’s just a quick turnaround,” head coach Marc Kurtz said. “It’s tough to really be playing the level that we know we’re capable of and the level that we have the potential to be at with that quick of a turnaround.”

The three-day regional consisted of multiple singles and doubles matches. Competitors did not receive a team score.

“We still represent Augustana. However, it’s more individual-focused,” junior tennis player Gabi Jancikova said. “In the fall, we have only the regionals, so that’s the most important thing.” 

Most players competed in two singles matches every day in addition to playing doubles. 

“I liked our fight that we showed,” Kurtz said. “We battled out there, and I think having a team full of eight very strong players kind of pushes everyone to continue to improve and get better and learn.” 

Hadjigeorgiou secured a spot in the finals on the last day of regionals after winning five straight matches in flight A of the women’s open singles. 

“I was very stressed because last year I didn’t do as well as I thought I would,” Hadjigeorgiou said. “I had the pressure of being a senior this year, and I was like, ‘I have to do well my senior year.’ And the fact that we didn’t get enough practice and we didn’t have enough matches, honestly, was a little stressful.” 

Hadjigeorgiou went to three sets in each match she played. In the semifinals, she took down Washburn University’s Maja Jung after falling in the first set 6-7 and winning sets two and three by 6-2 and 10-3. 

“It was probably one of my best wins in college,” Hadjigeorgiou said. “And it felt so good that the girl I beat was the No. 2 seed of the tournament.” 

Hadjigeorgiou fell to the University of Nebraska-Kearney’s Jazmin Zamorano in the final round of the flight A women’s open singles, earning a second-place finish at the regional tournament. Zamorano won in two sets with 6-2 and 6-0. 

“By the time [Hadjigeorgiou] got to the finals, she was exhausted physically but even more so mentally, I think,” Kurtz said. “It was just grueling to win those five matches in third sets and then have to play a good opponent too. But she had a heck of a run and did really well.”

Freshman Smilte Bakyte procured the open singles flight B consolation championship, taking down Washburn University’s Martine Carroll in two sets at 4-2 and 4-1. 

Freshman Mia Garcia Escorcia picked off players from Northeastern State University and Washburn University to land a spot in the flight A round of 16 before falling to Missouri Western State University’s Cristina Boj Granero by 0-6 and 0-6. 

“We have three new freshmen on the women’s team, and it was great to get to watch them and see them play against good competition,” Kurtz said. 

Jancikova and freshman Simone Karaouza landed in the quarterfinals of flight A of the women’s open doubles after taking down the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Northeastern State University. The pair lost 4-8 to the University of Central Oklahoma’s Pete Komada and Blythe Buntrock, who went on to win the finals. 

“Overall, I was pleased, especially considering the quick turnaround,” Kurtz said. “I was pleased with our performance, but it’s certainly not the best that we’re going to be playing. And I want us to be playing our best at the end of the year anyway.” 

Hadjigeorgiou said the physicality of the matches proved the most challenging part of the tournament. 

“It’s mostly physical and being mentally there. It’s kind of tough to handle sometimes, especially when you're exhausted,” Hadjigeorgiou said. “Our bodies by the end of the week were sore and tired.”

However, Hadjigeorgiou is rather content with her performance. 

“I’m glad I did well in my last regional tournament. Honestly, that was the goal because I wanted to end my senior year with good memories,” Hadjigeorgiou said. “I’m super happy with myself. Of course, I could have made it to win the final, but it was just the exhaustion.” 

Ultimately, the Vikings’ performance at the ITA regionals provided an idea of how this year’s roster looks and what the team needs to focus on before the spring. 

“We have a lot of good returners. Our roster has eight really, really strong players on it,” Kurtz said.  “We have a lot of depth and a lot of firepower with the team. It was good to see the freshmen play, and we got an idea of things that we have to work on and improve.”