Cortina Pou and Ito Pick Up Ranked Singles Wins as Alabama Women's Tennis Completes Day One at Rice Invitational
9/28/2019 11:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Senior Alba Cortina Pou defeated No. 55 Tatum Rice, while junior Moka Ito bested No. 53 Martina Zerulo
HOUSTON – Senior Alba Cortina Pou and junior Moka Ito picked up ranked singles wins in the first full day of the Rice Invitational on Saturday in Houston, Texas. Senior Ann Selim had the best day for the Tide going 2-0 in singles play.
Round-by-Round
- In the first round of singles, Cortina Pou battled to the 7-6(5), 6-2, victory over No. 55 Tatum Rice of Arkansas. In the same draw, Ito came away with the 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7) victory over No. 53 Martina Zerulo of Arkansas.
- In the Flight Two Singles Draw, freshmen Isabella Harvison and Ares Teixido both fell in their first-round matchups.
- The Tide found some success in the Flight Three Singles Draw, with Selim defeating Amelie Boy (USF), 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6). Senior Luca Fabian fell in her first match to Lucian Natal (UT-Arlington).
- In the second round of singles play, Cortina Pou and Ito both fell, while Harvison picked up her first win after cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Monica Malinen (Colorado).
- Selim won her second match of the day, this time against Mimi Kendall-Woseley (Houston), 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7). In the same draw, Fabian bounced back nicely with a convincing 6-2, 6-1, victory versus Marguerite Timmermans (USF).
- In doubles action, Ito/Harvison took care of business against Ndunda/Pedemonti (Houston), 6-1. Fabian/Selim also won theirs doubles match versus Heczey/Badwy (North Texas), 6-3. Cortina Pou and Teixido dropped their match in doubles play.
Tournament Notes
- Cortina Pou and Ito each had one win over nationally ranked opponents last year, they have already matched that total for this season after their wins on Saturday.
- Harvison picked up her first career singles and doubles win with the Crimson Tide.
- There are 78 players from 13 schools (Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Houston, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas State, USF, UT-Arlington and UTSA) that are entered into the tournament.
Up Next
- One round of doubles will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Sunday, followed by one round of singles.
Alabama Results
Flight 1 Singles Draw
- Alba Cortina Pou def. No. 55 Tatum Rice (ARK), 7-6(5), 6-2
- Moka Ito def. No. 53 Martina Zerulo (ARK), 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
- Victoria Smirnova (RICE) def. Alba Cortina Pou, 6-1, 6-4
- Anastasia Smirnova (RICE) def. Moka Ito, 7-6(5), 6-4
Flight 2 Singles Draw
- Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Isabella Harvison, 6-3, 6-2
- Laura Pellicer Perello (USF) def. Ares Teixido, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5)
- Isabella Harvison def. Monica Malinen (COLO), 6-1, 6-0
- Priya Niezgoda (RICE) def. Ares Teixido, 6-3, 6-1
Flight 3 Singles Draw
- Ann Selim def. Amelie Boy (USF), 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)
- Lucia Natal (UTA) def. Luca Fabian, 7-5, 6-2
- Ann Selim def. Mimi Kendall-Woseley (UH), 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)
- Luca Fabian def. Marguerite Timmermans (USF), 6-2, 6-1
Flight 1 Doubles Draw
- Ito/Harvison vs. Ndunda/Pedemonti (UH), 6-1
Flight 2 Doubles Draw
- Pellicer Perrello/Mjos (USF) def. Cortina Pou/Teixido, 6-3
- Fabian/Selim def. Heczey/Badwy (UNT), 6-3
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