Stefanova Wins Singles Match at ITA Regionals

By Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, ILL. Two Monmouth College women's tennis players competed in the ITA Central Regional tournament on Friday at Washington University in St. Louis.

Ivana Stefanova (Streamwood, Illinois) rallied to win her first round match against a player from Franciscan University. After dropping the opening set 7-5, Stefanova won the second set 6-3. She took control of the deciding tiebreak early and kept the pedal down for a 10-3 tiebreak win. In the round of 64, Stefanova played 9-seeded Sarena Brita from the University of Chicago and fell 6-0, 6-1.

Natalie Labicki (Antioch, Illinois) lost her first round singles match 6-2, 6-2 to a player from Hope College. She will play in the consolation round of 32 on Saturday against a player from DePauw.

In doubles, Stefanova/Labicki lost their first round doubles match to the No. 1 team from Illinois Wesleyan 8-5. The Scots duo fell behind 5-1, battled back but couldn't completely close the gap. Stefanova and Labicki beat the same doubles team at home on Wednesday in the Monmouth dual against IWU.

The duo received a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket and will face a doubles team from Rose-Hulman in the consolation round of 16 on Saturday morning.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: With 44 combined singles and doubles wins, Stefanova moved into a 6th in MC history, passing Sara Yerks ,,, The last time the Scots women's team had players in the ITA Regionals was Oct. 2015.