CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – SIUE women's tennis flexed its depth this week at the ITA Midwest Regionals.
SIUE Head Coach Adam Albertsen witnessed success after success for the Cougars. Three singles players emerged from qualifying to play in the main draw with the Cougars earning two spots in the Midwest Regional Round of 16 for the first time in school history.
"This was a tremendous showing by our team in a very challenging Midwest Regional," said Albertsen. "Not only did we compete at a high level, but we had eight different players pick up wins. This team has incredible depth and been a key to an exciting fall season."
Margaux Guibal Britt and Elena Palioura won two matches during qualifying to earn spots in the main draw with Stefaniya Anikina.
Guibal Britt bested Northern Illinois' Lucia Yecora 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Bowling Green's Kiera Taylor 6-3, 6-4. Palioura defeated UIC's Anais Brion 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 as well as Northern Illinois' Theodora Kousiou 6-2, 6-2.
Day one of the Championships also included singles wins for Paloma Hennicaux, Jessica Li and Chloe Koons.
SIUE's doubles play also shined on day two of the Championships.
The duo of Li and Palioura shocked a pair of Big Ten teams. Li and Palioura defeated Michigan's Laura Maser and Baylen Sheinin 8-5 and then downed Michigan State's Amara Brahmbhatt 8-3. The win over Michigan was against a program that finished last season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Guibal Britt and Anikina, who will represent the SIUE and the Ohio Valley Conference at next month's ITA Masters in San Diego, found success with an 8-7 (7-4) win over Michigan's Laura Rahnel and Emily Sartz-Lunde. Sartz-Lunde was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. The Cougar duo followed with an 8-4 win over Illinois State's Nuria Sanz and Silvia Pomarolli.
"I love the steps we are taking in doubles," said Albertsen. "The wins Margaux, Stefaniya, Jessica and Elena earned, show they can play with anyone. This entire team works hard and supports each other on and off the courts. It's great to see them rewarded with these moments while we keep pushing to even bigger goals."
Both doubles duos would drop close matches in the Round of 16 to players from Ohio State and Wisconsin. Guibal Britt and Anikina dropped an 8-7 (7-2) match to Ohio State's Sophia Cisse-Ignatiev and Flora Johnson. Li and Palioura dropped an 8-4 decision to Wisconsin's Kaede Usui and Tianna Rangan.
Most of the team will next get ready for the spring season set to start in January. SIUE's final event of the fall has Guibal Britt and Anikina challenging some of the nation's best doubles teams Nov. 6-9 in San Diego at the ITA Masters.
