Ring Falls One Victory Short of Main Draw

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Tulsa, Okla.?Sophomore Maria Ring of the Nebraska women’s tennis team fell in the second round of the ITA Central Regional Qualifying Tournament Wednesday, Oct. 18.  With the loss, Ring is eliminated from the tournament.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

In the first round, Ring shot out of the gates and set the tone of the match, defeating Deborah Skinstad of Oral Roberts, 6-2, 6-2.

 

Ring needed a win in the second round to advance to the Main Draw of the tournament.

 

Ring started out strong and carried her momentum over from the first round and took the first set, 7-6 (5), over Oklahoma’s Rachael Cox.  Cox, however, rebounded and took the second set, mirroring the first set, 7-6 (5).  The match then moved into a superbreaker.  The two exchanged points, but in the end, Cox outlasted Ring, 10-8.

 

The conditions were very tough to deal with,” Assistant Coach Hayden Perez said.  “The temperature was in the 50s and there were high winds.  It came down to who could focus and play in those conditions.  The match could have gone either way.” 

 

Play continues at the ITA Central Regionals Thursday, Oct. 19, as junior Imke Reimers and freshmen Diana Kuhl and Wiveca Swarting play in the Main Draw singles tournament.  In doubles, Reimers will team up with Ring and Kuhl with Swarting in the Main Draw doubles tournament, which also begins Oct. 19.

 

ITA Central Regional Qualifying Tournament

1st Round

Maria Ring (NU) def. Deborah Skinstad (Oral Roberts), 6-2, 6-2

 

2nd Round

Rachael Cox (OU) def. Maria Ring (NU), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 10-8