ST. PETER – The Carthage women's tennis team traveled to Minnesota to compete in the 2024 ITA Midwest Regional Championships at Gustavus Adolphus College over the weekend. It was an exciting weekend for the Firebirds, as the team saw an individual battle throughout the tournament and into the finals of the singles championship bracket.

 

SINGLES TOURNAMENT

Xingchen Liu was electric all weekend long. Liu opened the tournament with a bye, before defeating Quinlyn Mack (Wis-Stevens Point) 6-2, 6-2. Liu then defeated Molly Austin (Gustavus Adolphus) 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals on Sunday. Liu then used a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Claire Keller (Bethel) to advance to the semifinals. Liu then defeated top-seeded Cassie Lee (Wis-Whitewater) 6-2, 6-4 to advance into the championship on Monday morning. Liu faced off against Karina Elvestrom (Gustavus Adolphus) in the championship, where she fell 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to finish in second place.

Giovanna Mendes opened the tournament with a win by forfeit to advance to the second round, where she fell to Lily Perrin (Grinnell) 7-5, 6-2.

Sasha Manojlovic opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Peyton Morgan (Concordia Wis.). Manojlovic was later defeated in the second round 6-2, 6-1 by Tasha Bailey (Wis-La Crosse). 

Greta Peterson fell in the opening round to Abby Ostermann (Luther) 6-1, 6-2.

DOUBLES TOURNAMENT

Peterson and Niki Manojlovic earned an 8-6 victory over Central to advance to the second round. The duo were defeated in the next round by Whitewater 8-1.

Mendes and Larissa Ishikawa were defeated by Bethel in the opening round 8-2.

S. Manojlovic and Liu fell 8-2 in the first round to Grinnell.

Marie Weis and Victoria Rizzo fell in the first round to Gustavus 8-1.


 
The Firebirds (2-2) return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 25 as the squad travels to Chicago to take on North Park at 3 p.m. Carthage women's tennis returns to Smeds Tennis Center on Oct. 4 as the Firebirds host Millikin at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.