Oct. 25, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue freshmen tennis players Hala Sufi and Alyssa Rodriguez both advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA Midwest Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday. The Boilermaker rookies will continue their quest for a regional title in Sunday quarterfinals.
Sufi defeated McGaffigan of Illinois 6-1, 7-6, then knocked off Xavier's Clary 6-1, 7-5. She will face top-seeded Cristelle Grier of Northwestern for a trip to the semifinals.
Rodriguez, who entered the main draw after winning three matches in qualifying, beat Drake's DeBruyn in the first round, then beat Martin of Wisconsin, 6-3, 6-3. She will play the Wildcats' fourth-seeded Rush.
Senior Gretchen Haynor lost 6-2, 6-1 to Northwestern's Peisel in the main draw, and dropped a 6-2, 7-5 decision to Stastny of Notre Dame in consolation.
Junior Amy Walgenbach lost 6-4, 6-0 to Martin, while classmate Shawna Zuccarini fell 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 to Illinois' Knue.
In doubles Rodriguez and junior Lara Burgarello lost 8-4 to Notre Dame's Connelly and Stastny.
Winners from all eight ITA regional tournaments across the country will gain berths to the ITA National Indoor Championships, which will be held in Ann Arbor, Mich., from Nov. 6 to 8.
Complete results from the ITA Midwest Championships can be found at www.wmubroncos.com.
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