Strong Showing To Open Year For Women's Tennis At ITA Regional Championships

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's tennis squad opened the 2018-19 season by competing in the 2018 Intercollegaite Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional Championships this weekend with a strong showing in Grand Rapids.

The individual-based event was hosted by Grand Valley State University with first-round action taking place on Saturday followed by day two competition on Sunday. The final matches take place on Monday.

In singles action, freshman Brittany Lavenant went a perfect 4-0 in action on Saturday and Sunday and will compete in the semifinal round of the "B" singles action on Monday with the championship match to follow.

Meanwhile, the tandem of senior Amiena Houston and freshman Sam Stephenson posted a perfect 4-0 record and captured the "B" flight doubles championship.

In the "A" singles bracket, freshman Isabela Paixao recorded a 1-1 overall record in the tournament. Junior Silvia Verebes dropped her opening match and finished 0-2 after bowing out of the consolation round.

However, in doubles play, Paixao and Verebes paired up to notch a 3-1 overall record and reached the semifinal round before falling in the "A" doubles bracket. Their wins included an upset of the second-seeded duo in round two action.

Finally, Houston competed in the "B" singles tourney and went 2-1 overall.

After Lavenant's action on Monday at the regional championships, FSU will then begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action on Saturday (Sept. 22) back at Grand Valley State with match time set for 10 a.m. (ET).