Firsts Abound For Women's Tennis

Blue Demons complete many firsts at Midwest Regional Championships over the weekend.

– For the first time ever the DePaul women’s tennis team had four players reach the main draw of the Midwest Regional Championships and two players won first round matches over the weekend at the Minnesota Tennis Center.

"I really thought we had a great tournament,” head coach Mark Ardizzone said. “We have a chance to be a really good team and this weekend proved we can play with anyone."

Both senior Marina Parashkevova and sophomore Petra Rehusova each won thier first round matches. Parashkevova defeated Notre Dame's Christian Thompson in come-from-behind fashion 3-6,6-4,6-4. Rehusova also won a three set match over Alie Schaffner of Michigan 7-5,3-6,6-2. Both players lost to the fourth-seeded player in their draws (Parashkevoa to Michelle Dacosta of Michigan 6-2, 6-1 and Rehusova to seed Katie McGaffigan of Wisconsin 6-4,6-1).

Sophomore Gergana Ganeva lost to Valerie Vladea from Northwestern and then defeated Nina Yaftali from Michigan in a consolation match. Beatrix Csordas lost a tough first round match before defeating Chelsea Nusslock of Wisconsin in the consolation.

DePaul’s best finish ever at the regional meet was turned in by Ganeva and Csordas as they reached the quarterfinals in doubles. The duo was defeated by Cristelle Grier and Audra Cohen from Northwestern after they stopped teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Western Michigan to reach the quarterfinals. Parashkevova and Rehusova lost in the second round.

DePaul University