FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The Haverford College women's tennis team put forth a strong performance at the 2022 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Southeast Regional Championships on Friday and Saturday at University of Mary Washington, earning a pair of bracket titles, earning a spot in the consolation semifinals, and impressing against some familiar foes.
In the "Blue C" doubles bracket, the pairing of Sriya Krishnan and Annie Barrett captured the title with a run through competitors from Dickinson, Lynchburg, and Averett. Going up against the Red Devils pairing of Izzy Desjardins and Alisa Steele, Haverford's pair took a convincing 8-5 win. Advancing to Saturday, the Fords then grinded out an early morning win over Ashley Hair and Alexa Hardesty of Lynchburg by an 8-6 final, and then returned later on Saturday for the bracket final against Brenda Pulakidas and Keira Gunning of Averett, beating that team by an 8-5 final to earn the bracket title.
Haverford's other bracket title of the day came in "Blue C" singles as Abhishree Menon took home the bracket crown with triumphs over players from Christopher Newport, Salisbury, and Averett. Menon was an 8-5 winner in the first round against Megan Bauer of CNU, before an 8-2 semifinal triumph over Olivia Hall of Salisbury. In the final, Menon prevailed in a tiebreaker over Keira Gunning of Averett, taking the bracket with an 8-7(6) victory in the pro set.
In championship bracket doubles action, Summer Williams and Rachael Fitzgerald were first round winners against Kiersten Chang and Kendra Womack of Christopher Newport, prevailing in a tiebreaker 8-7(4). Returning to action later in the day, the pairing also bested Maria Cristina Diaz-Nazario and Eva Kading of Washington College by an 8-6 final to advance to Saturday's Round of 16 against Riho Iijima and Becket Waters of Washington & Lee. The pair again took that battle in a tiebreak, 8-7(5), moving into the quarterfinals where their run eventually ended as Amanda Hagino and Hana Kimmey of Mary Washington advanced to the semifinals with an 8-0 win.
In other championship doubles action, the pairing of first years Erika Phanord and Menon were upended by an 8-2 final by the pairing of Daniela Padron Castillo and Jenny Lewis of Swarthmore in the first round, and fell in the consolation Round of 16 to Essence Wang and Christina Huynh of Johns Hopkins by an 8-6 final. The pairing of Mimi Lavin and Ellie Esterowitz made quick work of Isabela and Alexandra Guilarte of Sweet Briar by an 8-2 final before falling by the same 8-2 final in the Round of 32 to Nathalie Williams and Kathleen Shiffer of Swarthmore.
In championship singles, Esterowitz fell to Jenny Lewis of Swarthmore (6-4, 1-6, 10-2) in the superbreaker, and entered her Consolation Round of 16 matchup against Sofia Andrade of Sweet Briar. Esterowitz blanked Andrade, 8-0, in a pro set and after earning a walkover in the quarterfinals, advanced to Sunday's consolation semifinals (10:45 a.m.).
Rachael Fitzgerald took a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over Emily Beckner of Mary Washington before falling in a superbreaker to fifth-seeded Julia Xiao of Johns Hopkins in the Round of 32 (3-6, 6-1, 10-6). Lavin was upended by Kamila Wong of Johns Hopkins (6-1, 6-2) in her first round matchup, while Williams fell to Grace Lorenz of Washington & Lee (6-2, 6-0) before dropping her match in the consolation Round of 16 to Alexa Brewester or Virginia Wesleyan.
In "Blue B" singles, Syria Krishnan earned an 8-3 win over Logan Glen of Christopher Newport before faltering to Isabel Guilarte of Sweet Briar (8-5) in the semifinals. Erika Phanord earned an 8-6 win over Piper Sartison before falling to Anika Joshi of Carnegie Mellon in the semifinals.
With Esterowitz set to wrap up action on Sunday, Haverford will then turn their focus to next week's Alumnae Match before the spring dual match schedule commences in late February. Haverford is slated to face off with Mary Washington at home on Saturday, February 25 at noon.