Palo Alto, Calif. - Christiana Ferrari posted a victory in her return to action for the Pacific women's tennis team, while Maayan Sela also advanced as the ITA Northwest Regional Championship opened Friday at Stanford.
Ferrari missed all of last season due to injury and made her first appearance for Pacific since April 11, 2015 in the Round of 128, where she posted a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Celine Gruaz of Cal Poly. In the Round of 64, Ferrari was topped by Julia Eshet of Oregon, 6-2, 6-3.
Sela also advanced to the Round of 64 by posting a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Ilana Oleynik of Cal Poly in the Round of 128. Sela was downed by Jacqueline Pelletier of Saint Mary's in the Round of 64, 6-1, 6-2.
Anneroos Nederstigt battled Gaelle Rey of San Jose State deep into three sets, but came up just shy at 1-6, 6-2, 7-5, in her Round of 128.
Sabrina Rodriguez also went three sets in the first round, with Carolina Chernyetsky of Sacramento State taking the 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 win.
Cristina Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz was topped by Cal Poly's Louise Oxnevad, 6-4, 6-4 in her Round of 128 match.
In Doubles Action, Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz and Sela prevailed over Erin Blessing and Valentina Sottile of Eastern Washington, 8-5 in the Round of 64. But Nederstigt and Rodriguez were topped 8-4 by Barbora Michalkova and Guzal Yusupova of Washington State.
"Today was another long day, but I am very happy with how we competed," head coach Tina Samara said. "It was great to see Christiana win her first match back after being out for a year and a half. We competed extremely well today but didn't get the results we hoped for in the end. Maayan found a way to battle back after being down a set and 0-3 in her first match. In her second match she did so many things well, but needs to keep pushing herself outside of her comfort zone and the wins will come. Cris [Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz] and Sabrina both had opportunities but didn't capitalize. We hope to see Cris and Maayan continue their run in doubles."
Doubles action will continue Saturday with Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz and Sela facing San Jose State's Marine Dans and Gaelle Rey in the Round of 32. Nederstigt and Rodriguez take on Janaya Smith and Faye Worrall of Eastern Washington in the Consolation Round of 32.
