Reifeis Prevails as Singles Champion

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Nebraska women’s tennis team finished play with seven more wins on Sunday, bringing its total to 35 wins at the Gopher Invitational this weekend. Sophomore Claire Reifeis triumphed as the singles champion in her bracket.

In a singles championship battle against Marquette’s Andrea Amortegui, Indianapolis native Reifeis notched a forceful 6-0, 6-5 victory to lead the Huskers Sunday. The win followed a doubles victory earlier in the day, when Reifeis and sophomore M’Balia Bangoura teamed up to defeat Hannah Wich and Habiba Aly of North Carolina State University, 6-3. Reifeis and Bangoura lost in the second doubles round in a tough fight against University of Minnesota’s Tina Kreinis and Annemarie Emme, 7-6 (8-6). Bradenton, Fla., native Bangoura also brought home her fourth win for the Huskers this weekend in a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Marquette’s Isabella Franks, placing her at ninth in her singles bracket.

Although she finished as a finalist in her bracket, sophomore Jeannie Lozowski was unfortunately unable to compete today due to a minor shoulder injury, placing her at second in her singles tournament. Freshman Emily Rees placed fifth, junior Vasanti Shinde placed seventh, and sophomore Hayley Haakenstad placed 11th in each of their respective singles brackets.

Juniors Paula Del Cueto Castillo and Marina Cozac each placed fourth in their respective singles brackets. Castillo fell in a close match against UMN’s Caroline Ryba, 6-3, 7-5, and Cozac lost to UMN’s Karyna Bihel, 6-3, 6-1. Chicago native Cozac brought in a doubles win with junior partner Elizabeth Gould earlier in the day, defeating Marquette’s Milica Novakovic and Lesley Foe, 7-5. The duo lost in the second round to UMN’s Kalyssa Hall and Karyna Bihel, 6-1.

Haakenstad helped bring in three more wins for Nebraska, starting off the day with two doubles wins with Castillo as her partner. The pair dominated their doubles bracket with a 6-0 victory over Drake’s Liza Petushkova and Joely Lomas, and an intense triumph over UMN’s Caroline Ryba and Mehvish Safdar, 6-1. Chanhassen, Minn., native Haakenstad notched her third win of the day over University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Janelle Wilson, 6-0.

The Huskers have a few weeks before competing next at the ITA Central Regional Championships in Lawrence, Kansas. The championships will run from Thursday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Oct. 23.

Fans can stay up-to-date with the Huskers by following the team on Twitter, @HuskersWTennis, or by visiting Huskers.com.

Results

Singles

Claire Reifeis (NEB) def. Andrea Amortegui (Marquette), 6-0, 6-5

Barbara Mancera (UMN) def. Jeannie Lozowski (NEB), Did Not Play

Back Draw Singles

Caroline Ryba (UMN) def. Paula Del Cueto Castillo (NEB), 6-3, 7-5

M’Balia Bangoura (NEB) def. Isabella Franks (Marquette), 6-2, 6-1

Karyna Bihel (UMN) def. Marina Cozac (NEB), 6-3, 6-1

Extra Singles

Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Janelle Wilson (UNO), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

Haakenstad/Del Cueto Castillo (NEB) def. Petushkova/Lomas (Drake), 6-0

Haakenstad/Del Cueto Castillo (NEB) def. Ryba/Safdar (UMN), 6-1

Reifeis/Bangoura (NEB) def. Wich/Aly (USD), 6-3

Kreinis/Emme (UMN) def. Reifeis/Bangoura (NEB), 7-6 (8-6)

Gould/Cozac (NEB) def. Novakovic/Foe (Marquette), 7-5

Hall/Bihel (UMN) def. Gould/Cozac (NEB), 6-1