By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette University has advanced to the Round of 16 in singles at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Women's Tennis Championships, hosted by the Bearcats at the WU Tennis Courts and the Salem Tennis & Swim Club. Smith won two matches on Friday, Sept. 18 to reach the Round of 16.
In her first round match, Smith outlasted Lilly Le of Pacific Lutheran University two win the first set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (8-6). Smith prevailed in the second set, 6-2.
Smith faced Adrienne Fox from Lewis & Clark College in the second round. Smith won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, and will take on the #11 seed, Jana Klages-Miller of Whitman College in the Round of 16. The match between Smith and Klages-Miller is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the WU Tennis Courts.
Willamette also received a first round victory in singles from Hannah Andres (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS). Andres downed Caitlyn Heredia of Whitworth University, 6-4, 6-3. In the second round, Claudia Lew of Lewis & Clark downed Andres, 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles, Willamette's team of Smith and Alexis Gjurasic (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) opened with a victory, before losing to a seeded team in the Round of 16. Smith and Gjurasic took an 8-6 win over Anabelle Burns and Emma Wiley of Whitworth in the first round. Kacey Incerpi and Vika O'Brien from L&C, the #6-seeded doubles team, defeated Smith and Gjurasic, 8-2, in the Round of 16.
Gjurasic, who lost a first round match in singles, rebounded in the consolation bracket to defeat Paloma Vizcaino from Lewis & Clark, 6-1, 6-4. Gjurasic will compete in the second round of the consolation singles bracket against Kristi Floyd of Pacific Lutheran University at 8:30 a.m. at the Salem Tennis & Swim Club.
On Saturday, action will continue through the quarterfinals in singles and the semifinals in doubles. Consolation matches also will be played in singles and doubles. The semifinals and finals in singles, as well as the finals in the doubles, will be played on Sunday.
