Freshman Laura Gravino leads the ISU womens tennis team into the third round of the Missouri Tiger Invite, being conducted as a round robin, with a strong showing in both singles and doubles matches.
In singles, freshman Laura Gravino beat University of Missouris Cassie Drake (6-3, 6-3) during the first round, then lost to Southwest Missouri States Ala Alvarez (6-4, 6-4) during round two. ISUs Liina Suurvarick also won during the first round, beating SMSs Cassandra Godfrey (6-3, 7-6 (5)), and lost to UMs Uska Juric (6-4, 6-4) during round two.
Much of the team will battle into the third round with two losses. ISUs Alesia Mikalayeva lost to UMs Uska Jurik (6-1, 6-1) first round, and to SMSs Ia Zozrashzili (6-2, 6-3) during round two. ISUs Alana Hoffman took a loss to UMs Kristina Olshanskaya (6-3, 6-2) in the first round, and lost to SMSs Oyuki Cruz (7-6(2), 7-6(3)) in the second round. Tatyana Ugorich of ISU lost in the first round to Marta Rubina of SMS (6-0, 6-2), and again to UMs Kristina Olshanskaya (6-2, 6-3) in round 2. Shelby Lipson of ISU lost to UMs Caitlin Thompson (6-2, 6-1) in the first round, and then to UMs Kathy Drake (6-4, 6-4, 10-1) in round two.
In doubles, ISUs team of Laura Gravino/Alana Hoffman lost during round one to SMSs team of Marta Rubina/Ala Alvarez (8-5), but came back to defeat Barry/Olshanskaya of UM (9-7). ISUs Alesia Mikalayeva/Liina Suurvarik were defeated by SMSs Godfrey/Zozrashzili (8-5) in round one, and by UMs Sevcikova/Juric (8-6) in round two. ISUs Tatyana Ugovich/Shelby Lipson lost to SMSs Cruz/Miller (8-3) in round one, and to Drake/Thompson of UM (8-2) in round two.
Round three of the tournament begins at 9am Sunday morning at the Missouri Outdoor Courts.
