Pang advances at ITA Central Regional

TULSA, Okla. - Yang Pang won two hard fought matches Friday to advance to the Round of 16 of the ITA Central Regional.  Sarah McLean started the day with a win over Minnesota's top player and the tournament 6th seed Natalia Pintusava, but suffered a three set loss in the 2nd round.

Pang defeated Iowa State's Simona Cacciuttolo 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round. In the second round the freshman rallied from a 4-6, 0-4 deficit to defeat Tulsa's Maria Sant'Anna 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Sarah McLean opened the tournament with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Minnesota's Natallia Pintusava, before falling 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 to Kansas' Maria Cardona. Claudine Paulson and Kimberley - Ann Surin were also defeated in first round action.

"I am very pleased with some of the performances out here today, especially Nicky's comeback win," Coach Michael Hegarty said. "She showed true grit in overcoming a slow start and hopefully she can play even stronger tomorrow."

Claudine Paulson and Sarah McLean opened the tournament with a win in doubles, defeating Drake's Maddie Johnson and Nell Boyd 8-2. Yang Pang and Kimberley - Ann Surin received a first round bye before falling in the second round 8-3 to Iowa's Shelby Tallcott and Morven McCulloch. Paulson/McLean dropped their second round match to Wichita State's Veronika Blaskova and Lucia Kovalova 8-5.

The ITA Central Regional continues on Saturday morning, with Yang Pang playing her round of 16 match. Play begins at 1 p.m. (CST). 
 
Complete Singles Results
Yang Pang (ARK) def. Simona Cacciuttolo (ISU) 6-2, 6-4
Yang Pang (ARK) def. Maria Sant'Anna (TU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Sarah McLean (ARK) def. Natallia Pintusava (MINN) 6-3, 6-0
Maria Cardona (KU) def. Sarah McLean (ARK) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
Isaura Enrique (TU) def. Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-1, 6-2
C. C. Sardinha (OSU) def. Kimberley - Ann Surin (ARK) 6-1, 6-1

Complete Doubles Results
Paulson / McLean (ARK) def. Johnson / Boyd (DU) 8-2
Tallcott / McCulloch (IA) def. Surin /Pang (ARK) 8-3
Blaskova / Kovalova (WSU) def. Paulson / McLean (ARK) 8-5