SALINA, Kan. - Seohyeon Jang defeated six consecutive opponents to take the ITA NAIA central west regional championship for women’s singles on Sunday (Sept. 27). The freshman lost only a single set in her run to take the final and a bid to the ITA Cup. Concordia University, Nebraska Tennis had 11 athletes (six men, five women) compete at the highly competitive tournament.
“Very proud of both our teams -the way everyone competed and represented CUNE was wonderful to see,” Head Coach Lisa Hart commented. “Very excited to see Lay (Jang) battle through after losing the first set and win a very tough match against a very strong competitor from Doane (Maria Purizaca). Also, very encouraged by our No. one doubles team of Chakira Derman and Lay Jang. I think they will be a very tough team to beat this year. We are excited to shift our focus to the team competition as we host midland in our first team match of the year when we have a nonconference match against them at home this Thursday.”
A Seoul, South Korea, native, Jang topped her first five opponents in consecutive sets. Her run to the quarterfinals showed her early dominance with wins over Rose Elie (6-0, 6-0), Arizbe Espinosa Cornejo (6-1, 6-0) and Sofia Prepo Recchiuti (6-2, 6-1). She proceeded to move past No. 9 Adiya Abdugappar (6-4, 6-2) and Rocio Espinal (6-2, 6-3) to reach the final. In the championship, Jang bested No. 3 Maria Purizaca (Doane) for the second time in two weeks in a winner-take-all match. The freshman dropped her first set (4-6) but responded with two straight (7-5, 6-2).
The Osan Information High grad paired with Chakira Derman in doubles reaching the semifinals before having an injury sideline the two Bulldogs. The No. 1 seed duo defeated Elie and Cecilia Driesel (8-0) and Chloe Hecker with Bieke Roovers (8-1). After, Derman and Jang defeated Daniela Casique and Sara Ladino (8-4) before the final four exit.
Chakira garnered two singles wins against Josline Carter (6-1, 6-2) and upset No. 14 Jewel Henderson (3-6, 6-2, 10-4) in a comeback tiebreaker. Derman was defeated by Purizaca in the round of 16.
Ishane, Alexa Richert and Nina Milic also competed over the weekend for the women’s team.
On the men’s side, newcomer Davi Costa made a run to the round of 16 in singles play winning his first match over Raphael Alvado (6-3, 7-5). The first-year transfer upended No. 4 Jorge Gabriel Batista in an all-out war (7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 11-9) that needed two tiebreakers to decided the winner.
Returner No. 8 Daniel Caballeros defeated Rayane Sanhaji (6-1, 6-2) to move on to the round of 32.
In doubles, No. 7s Caballeros and Ben Chisholm won over Phil Fleischer and Fernando Vargas Sanchez (8-4) then Alejo Zurmendi and Bede Mccashin (8-6) to reach the quarterfinals.
Juan Luzuriaga and Leo Lopez moved to the round of 16 then fell in a tough match to No. 3s Mathys Arnold and Marcos Menendez (5-8).
No. 8s Diego Villafane and Davi Pereira Costa went into extras but fell (7-9) to Mats Vervloet and Pablo Prieto Pelaez (7-9).
Concordia will host Midland in a non-conference fall dual on Thursday (Oct. 1). The match is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT at the Bulldog Tennis Courts. Jang will receive an invitation to compete at the ITA Cup from Oct. 15-18 at the Rome Tennis Center at Mount Berry in Rome, Ga.