May 23, 2012

 

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Miami’s Anna Bartenstein defeated Liudmila Vasilieva, 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles Championships at the Georgia’s Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Wednesday.

Bartenstein came into the championships as the 18th-ranked player in the nation and intends to leave with a higher one. She easily outdueled her 51st-ranked opponent from Washington State and will face USC’s Zoe Scandalis, who is currently ranked 14th.

Scandalis survived a three-set opener against No. 65 Lucia Batta of UNLV, 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2, and will face Bartenstein on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The Canes’ other senior participant in the singles championships was 27th-ranked Gabriela Mejia. The Columbia native jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first set against Baylor’s Diana Nakic. However, the 16th-ranked Nakic won the next six games and eventually won the match, 6-2, 6-2.

Mejia’s season ends with a 27-5 singles record and her collegiate career concludes after seeing her team advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals in each of her four seasons.