Illinois States Alesia Mikalayeva fell to Tulsas Alex Durska, 8-4, in the first round of qualifiers at the T. Rowe Price National Intercollegiate Clay Court Championships.
Were obviously disappointed, had coach Chris Hoover said. Shes a slow starter so eight game sets dont really help. If they had been playing a regular match, she would have lost the first set, 6-2, and been up in the second set, 2-0.
Playing in her first national collegiate event, Mikalayeva admits that she really didnt know what to expect.
The talent was really tough, I really didnt know what to expect in my first national tournament, Mikalayeva said. The girl I played (Durska) was very good, but if we had been playing a regular set, I think I could have won.
Mikalayeva rejoins her Redbird teammates on Friday at the Saint Louis Billiken Fall Classic.
