TYLER, TX (09.22.13) - The doubles tandem of
Casey Johnson and
Auvi Tran will be representing UT Dallas the 2013 Small College Championships next month after claiming the regional title at the ITA Southwest Regionals over the weekend.
The duo was the top seed in the Doubles "A" bracket and stormed through the event to become the first UTD tennis players regardless of gender to claim a regional title advance to the Small College Championships. The national event will take place Oct. 10-13, in Fort Myers, Fla.
After a first-round bye, the twosome opened play with an 8-0 win over Schreiner's Kelsey Buzckowski/Karyn Swink. Johnson/Tran then ousted seventh-seeded Kathleen Lundquist/Caroline White of Trinity, 8-2, before a close 9-8 (4) win over fourth-seeded Kristy Hamilton/Stephanie Williamson, also of Trinity, to advance to the finals. In the title match, the Comet pair downed second-seeded Jessica Blundell/Amy Friesenhahn of Texas-Tyler, 8-4.
UTD's second double squad of
Cindy Tiu and
Mindy Tiu picked up a first-round win over Hendrix' Lefler/Mahaney, due to withdrawal, but fell to Texas Lutheran's Vega/Zarr, the No. 6 seed, in the second round.
In singles action, Johnson was the No. 2 seed and advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated. Tran was the No. 3 seed and advanced to the round of 16.
Mindy Tiu, the No. 12 seed, and Cindy Tiueach fell in the second round.
Mindy Tiu later advanced to the semifinals of the consolation bracket.
For Johnson in singles, she opened play with a 7-6 (1), 6-4, win over Trinity's Stephanie Williamson in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. She then downed UT-Tyler's Haley Albro (6-4, 6-4), and Trinity's Kyle Hornbeck (6-0, 6-1) to advance to the semis. Hornbeck was the No. 5 seeded player.
