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HJERTQUIST LEADS RAMS AT WILSON/ITA INDOOR ATLANTIC REGIONALS BLACKSBURG, Va. – Legendary Head Coach Paul Kostin knew that freshman Josefin Hjertquist (Spanga, Sweden) could become a special player during her career with the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s tennis program. Not even Kostin could have imagined this type of start for Hjertquist’s career. Just two weeks after the newcomer rolled to a singles title at the Old Dominion Collegiate Invitational, she posted three straight victories and earned a berth in the quarterfinals of the 64-player Wilson/ITA Atlantic Indoor Regionals. In the opening round, Hjertquist fought past Deanna Bailey of Marshall for a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory and then dropped Shannon Betts of Virginia Tech, 6-3, 6-2. One of the biggest upsets of the weekend came when she steamrolled top-60 ranked and Virginia’s top player Emily Fraser, 6-0, 7-6 (4) to earn the spot in the “Elite 8”. A tough 7-6, 6-3 loss to third-seeded Nadine Fahoum of Old Dominion would end Hjertquist stellar weekend. Fahoum would go on to win the individual championship. “I was really proud of not only the way Josefin played, but all our girls” Kostin said. “We played tough all weekend against some quality competition. With hard work over the off season, hopefully we’ll be able to make another run to the NCAA Tournament.” Also for the Rams, sophomores Alex and Ana Bara (Oradea, Romania) each posted two victories at the tournament to round out the Black & Gold’s participation. Alex opened the weekend with back-to-back straight set victories over Monique Burton of West Virginia (6-0, 6-2) and Holly Johnson of Virginia Tech (6-3, 6-1). Bara then ran into the eventual runner-up of the tournament Erin Vierra of Virginia, falling 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the round of 16. Ana started much the same way her sister did with straight set wins over Brittany Morgan of Howard (6-2, 6-3) and Ivan Tomaic of Radford (6-2, 6-2), before falling to second-seeded Lindsey Hardenbergh of Virginia, 6-2, 7-6 (2). The Rams will take the winter and prepare to make a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in the spring. VCU will open its spring season in its annual 4x1 Tournament on January 22nd at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. Ana Bara Alex Bara Josefin Hjertquist Doubles – Hjertquist/Alex Bara |
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