Wildcats Enjoy Early Success At ITA All-American Championships

10/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Oct. 5, 2011

ITA All-American Championships
Saturday, Oct. 1 - Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011
Riviera Tennis Club
Los Angeles, Calif. • All Day
Tournament Central

LOS ANGELES -- As the fall campaign continues, the Northwestern women's tennis team has sent several team members to Los Angeles, Calif. to join the best of the best from around the country for the ITA All-American Championships.

The qualifying singles draw began Tuesday with three Wildcats in the field. Kate Turvy (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) had the most success on day one as she won a pair of matches. In the opener, Turvy won the first set over Duke's Rachel Kahan, 6-2 before slipping in the second, 3-6. The junior would rally in the third, however, to put Kahan away, 6-3. Turvy, ranked No. 53 in the Campbell's ITA fall rankings, will face North Carolina's Lauren McHale Wednesday.

Also in action in the qualifying singles draw on Tuesday were Belinda Niu (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) and Brittany Wowchuk (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Oakville Trafalgar). Niu dropped her opening-round match to USC's Caitlyn Christian, 7-5, 6-0. Wowchuk was bested Tuesday by Baylor's Diana Nakic, who is ranked No. 28 in the preseason rankings, 6-4, 7-5.

Both Niu and Wowchuk next moved to the back draw. Wowchuk advanced by defeating Erin Vierra of Virginia, 7-5, 6-4. Niu was edged for the second straight time at the tournament, this time by LSU's Whitney Wolf, 6-3, 6-4.

Northwestern's talented doubles duo of Linda Abu Mushrefova (Bradenton, Fla./Pendleton) and Nida Hamilton (Oak Brook, Ill./Hinsdale Central), fresh off a championship in flight A of the Wildcat Invitational, are also in Los Angeles for the qualifying doubles draw.

Check back with NUsports.com for updates on all the Wildcats in action throughout the week. Complete results can be found by accessing the Tournament Central page.

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