TIGERS PUT FORTH STRONG PERFORMANCES AT ITA REGIONALS

WORCESTER, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's and women's tennis teams got their fall seasons off to a great start with a strong showing at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central-East Regional Championships last weekend, hosted by Holy Cross College.

Chatton Haws made the deepest run in the men's main draw, working his way to the round of 16 after advancing via first-round bye then downing Missouri Baptist's Nicolas Sanchez in a 6-3, 7-6, 10-4 super tiebreaker win in the round of 32.

After falling in straight-sets in the main draw's round of 32, Paul Saleh won three consecutive matches in the consolation bracket to make the lower finals, ultimately falling short to MBU's Alberto Pros Cieker in the final.

Davi Toledo and Hector Romero teamed up to make a big run in the men's doubles bracket. The duo beat out Brock Dawson and Niel Hentrich in an 8-7 tiebreaker in the round 16 before advancing on a 8-6 win over Joshua Bavich and Francisco Sanchez in the quarterfinals.

Rafaela Luna led the Tigers on the women's side. After falling 6-4, 6-4 in her opening round matchup, the sophomore made a stellar run through the lower bracket, culminating in an 8-1 victory in the finals to win the consolation bracket.

Luna then teamed up with Natasha Nieto to make the semifinals of the doubles main bracket, defeating Missouri Baptist's duo in a 9-8 tiebreaker in the opening round before besting their ONU teammates 8-0 in the quarterfinals.

The Tigers will now host UW-Stevens Point at Snowbarger Athletic Complex Saturday morning at 12 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu