SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Following a successful weekend on the courts at the ITA Central Regional tournament, Augustana women's tennis went on to secure multiple bids to the inaugural ITA DII Championships happening next week in Tuscaloosa.
 
"Our team had one of the most successful Fall ITA regionals that we've ever had," said head coach Marc Kurtz. "We had a ton of wins and the girls performed at a very high level."
 
Headlining the bids was AnaMaria Zoric, who earned an individual selection in women's singles competition.
 
The junior cruised to 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-1 wins through her first two rounds of action before taking a gritty 7-5, 6-2 victory in the round of 16. Zoric's momentum continued in the quarterfinals as she secured a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win but was soon turned away in the three-set 6-3, 3-6, 0-6 semifinal match by the eventual regional champion. Despite the loss, her efforts awarded her an at-large selection to the national event.  
 
Over in doubles competition, Smilte Bakyte and Fernanda Sandoval made waves as the tandem cruised all the way to the regional championship to secure themselves a bid to the national championships.
 
It all began in the round of 32 as Bakyte and Sandoval pushed their way to a strong 8-4 win. The round of 16 saw the duo down their competition, 8-5, while the quarterfinals ended in the same 8-5 win result. Another 8-5 win in the semifinals pushed the Viking pair to the regional championship, but ended in a narrow 4-6, 4-6 loss.
 
"Fernanda and Smilte had an excellent regional, winning multiple matches and eventually losing a close match in the regional championship," said Kurtz.
 
Rounding out the national selections, Zoric doubled up her bids by teaming up with Mariia Bakhtina as the second doubles pair to represent Augustana.
 
The duo collected an early and quite convincing 8-1 win the round of 32 to start the journey, but the trip ended early with a narrow 7-8 (5-7) loss in the round of 16. Zoric and Bakhtina will still compete in the ITA national championship courtesy of an at-large bid due in part to Zoric's No. 3 national ranking in doubles play last season.
 
In addition to its three national bids, Augustana saw even more success from all of its athletes at the central regional.
 
Women's competition saw Martina Sfilio and Kristin Lucas team up in doubles action while taking 8-4 and 8-5 wins in the first two rounds of play before narrowly falling 6-8 in the quarterfinals. Simone Karaouza and Mia Garcia also represented the women in doubles play, taking an early 8-4 win in the round of 32 before falling 5-8 in the round of 16.
 
Main Draw singles play resulted in Karaouza dominating through the first two rounds until a roadblock in the round of 16 ended her journey. Bakhtina also collected a pair of thrilling wins in the first two rounds but dropped in three sets in the round of 16. A win came in the first round for Bakyte but was followed by a loss in the round of 32. Garcia made it all the way to the semifinals off four straight convincing and relentless wins but ended in three sets in the semis. Rounding out the Vikings in women's singles play, Sandoval and Lucas each clinched strong first round wins before each falling in the round of 32.
 
The Augustana men also saw strong competition at the ITA Central Regionals.
 
In the men's open singles main draw, Mathias Bonnefond grabbed a straight-set win in the first round before narrowly falling in the round of 32. Enzo Moretti also took a dominant win home in the round of 64 but was also turned away in the second round. Injury saw Thomas Kano move on to the round of 32 before dropping a close battle as Andreas Nygaard collected a first-round win and fell in a heartbreaking round of 32 match. Pedro Pinto faced a strong opponent early in the round of 64 and saw his journey end in straight sets.
 
Flight B singles competition saw Alex Rallis fall in a narrow round of 32 match while Will Koziara found a first-round bye and a straight-set win in the round of 16 before falling in the quarterfinals.
 
Flight B doubles play featured the tandem of Rallis and Keagen Lowman as they collected an 8-4 win in the round of 16, but were turned away in quarterfinals. Action in the Main Draw bracket saw Pinto and Koziara fall in the opening round of 32 as the duos of Bonneford & Nygaard and Kano & Garcia both reached the round of 16 off initial wins, but did not move on any further.
 
The ITA DII Singles and Doubles National Championships will take place in Tuscaloosa from November 4-8 at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center. The singles field will feature 32 players while the doubles field holds 16 teams for both the men and women. Athletes were selected to compete at the championship based on finish at an ITA DII Regional Champion or by receiving an at-large selection determined by the ITA Operating Committee.