East Lansing, Mich. - Day one of the 2008 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championships completed this evening. Kirsten Gambrell was the lone Blue Demon representative in the singles qualifying rounds.
Gambrell eliminated Kate Chybowski from Evansville in the first round by a score of 7-5 (2), 6-1. After a rough battle, Gambrell (4-1) suffered her first singles loss of the season in the second round to Kara Courtney, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Singles qualifying completion continues tomorrow morning, in addition to the main draw of the doubles bracket. Making their tournament debut, Dunja Antunovic, Gia McKnight, Selma Salkovic, Sandra Zmak, and Anna Redecsi join Gambrell on the doubles courts.
Gambrell teams up with Antunovic to play Fadzai Mawisre and Amy Blacketer from Southern Illinois. The Youngstown State due of Tanisha Welch and Anna Volkova must face Zmak and Redecsi, who boast a combined six doubles victories. The other half of the bracket features Salkovic and McKnight who go head-to-head against Eastern Illinois’ Julianna Frey and Amanda Dibbs.
Double matches are slated to begin Friday afternoon, after the completion of the singles qualifying rounds, slated to begin 8 a.m. (CST)
