HAMMOND, La. – The New Orleans Privateers got solid performances across the board and three semifinal appearances in the Southland Fall Championships which took place at the SLU Tennis Courts.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Anastassia Kouchnareva knocked out the 1-seed on her journey to the singles semifinal. It started on Thursday when Kouchnareva posted an overwhelming performance against Lamar's Asta Mietten, winning 6-0, 4-0 after her opponent retired from the match.
Kouchnareva then took out the top seed in the tournament when she beat A&M-Corpus Christi's Ana Veroux 7-5, 6-4. Kouchnareva was behind most of the first set after conceding an early break but rallied to take it late. That win advanced Kouchnareva to the final four participants on Saturday where she gave a valiant effort in a 6-4, 7-5 loss to 4-seed, Sofia Salcedo of UIW.
In doubles, Kouchnareva paired with the debuting freshman,
Fleur Sprengers. The duo beat Mietten and Megan Do after taking a pair of long sets 7-5, 6-4. The pair got out to a quick start against the 1-seed, Irene Cocero and Lauren Wipfli of NJIT, but they couldn't make an early service break hold up in the opening set. Cocero and Wipfli won 6-4, 6-4.
MEN'S RECAP
Matthew Armbruster provided a stellar performance in his opening round as the 4-seed, and ultimately exited after a gritty performance against the top seed in the bracket.
Armbruster played Santiago Serrano of UTRGV in the first round on Friday. Armbruster was solid throughout and sported a high first serve percentage as he controlled the match throughout, winning 6-3, 6-1.
That advanced him to the 1-seed, Pablo Perez Ramos of NJIT. Ramos had a win against Southland Player of the Year,
Marcel Volz a few months ago in the Southland Tournament. He broke through Armbruster's serve early in both sets of a 6-3, 6-4 decision. Armbruster got to deuce point on Ramos's serve four times but the Highlander stood equal to the task each time including the last on match point.
In doubles, Armbruster and
Sep de Visser had a stellar performance in their opening round match. The duo ripped off four consecutive games in the first of their straight set victory against the 2-seed, Alejandro Hernandez and Emilio Vila of UIW. A late substitution before the tournament began, de Visser slid in seamlessly as the duo worked well together for an opening round victory.
Their stay was upended by A&M-Corpus Christi in the semifinals though as Harry Fouzas and Tom Berry won 6-3, 7-5. The Privateer duo was down 5-2 in the second set before roaring back late but Fouzas and Berry held them off to advance to the final.
NEXT UP
The men will close their fall schedule against Nicholls while the women are slated to take part in the recently re-scheduled Battle Down the Bayou on Nov. 8.
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