MARION, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University women's tennis team competed at the ITA Midwest Regional Championship Sept. 23-26 in Marion, Indiana, led by a main-draw doubles quarterfinal appearance from
Dayra Novella and
Liliana Salas Bejarano.
Victoria Herrington and
Lilah Dean added a runner-up finish in the doubles consolation bracket, while Dean and
Madelyn Dell reached the singles consolation quarterfinals.
Following an opening bye, Novella and Salas Bejarano defeated Huntington's Coby Sander and Macy Felger 8-5. The Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals with an 8-2 victory over Marian's Hannah Royalty and McKenna Snider before falling 8-4 to Huntington's Yariange Bello and Ashley Bucur. The SAU pair finished 2-1.
Herrington and Dean responded to a main-draw loss with three consecutive consolation victories. They defeated Indiana Wesleyan's Ava Griggs and Mackenzie Davis 8-2, Taylor's Jillian Darby and Liza Brouwer 8-5, and Indiana Wesleyan's Paige Riegsecker and Riley Glassley 8-2 to reach the final. Indiana Wesleyan's Halley Brooks and Meribel Jarna edged the Cougars 9-7 in the championship match. Herrington and Dean finished 3-2.
In singles, Herrington, Salas Bejarano and
Eva Codita each advanced to the round of 32. Herrington defeated Indiana Wesleyan's Maria Downs 6-0, 6-1 before dropping a match tiebreaker to Marian's Elisa Roccaforte. Salas Bejarano earned a 6-1, 6-1 win over Taylor's Evy Danemayer, while Codita defeated Marian's Paullaris Caudle 6-1, 6-0.
Novella rallied past Taylor's Madison Fuqua 4-6, 7-6 (11-9), 10-7 in her opening singles match. Maggie Page also earned a first-round victory, defeating Grace's Addison Swope 6-4, 6-2.
Dean finished 3-2 in singles, earning consolation wins over Taylor's Brouwer and Marian's Royalty along with an advancement following an opponent's injury withdrawal. Dell defeated Huntington's Abigail Beck 8-5 and teammate
Kaitlyn Schmitt 8-3 before exiting in the consolation quarterfinals. Schmitt added an 8-2 singles victory over Grace's Hope Bruinsma.
Dell and Schmitt also recorded an 8-2 doubles consolation win over Indiana Wesleyan's Downs and Adalena Black.
Spring Arbor welcomes Cedarville and Olivet Nazarene to the Jones Tennis Complex on Saturday, Oct. 10.
