May 10, 2007

Siwosz, two doubles teams to play for national titles

Entering the final day of competition at the NJCAA Women's Tennis National Tournament in Tucson, Ariz., the Cowley College women’s tennis team has one singles player and two doubles teams vying for national titles.

Kasia Siwosz remained unbeaten on the season as she defeated Lee College’s Kalei Gora 6-2, 6-1 to advance to today’s championship match.

“Kasia played a great match,” Cowley head coach Brad Louderback said.

Siwosz, who is the top-ranked No. 1 singles player, will face second-ranked Hiroko Nishikawa of Hillsborough Community College in the final.

Siwosz will then team with Karolina Porizkova to play for the title at No. 1 doubles as the duo defeated Tyler Junior College’s Ashley Irvin and Manuela Santos 6-3, 6-4 in Wednesday’s semifinal match.

Siwosz and Porizkova will face Nishikawa and Mizuho Nishimura from Hillsborough Community College.

The Lady Tigers’ No. 2 doubles team of Hanane Toumi and Juliana Franco also advanced to the national championship match, which will be played later today. The duo defeated Tyler’s Rachel Anders and Priscilla Villemond 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.
Toumi and Franco will face a doubles team from Lee College in the final.

Earlier Wednesday, Porizkova and Franco were eliminated from singles competition as they each lost semifinal matches.

Porizkova lost her No. 3 singles match to Hillsborough’s Amanda Yogus 6-3, 6-3.
“Karolina fought hard, her opponent just played a great match,” Louderback said.

Franco also battled hard before falling to Lee College’s Stephanie Rodriguez 6-1, 7-5 in No. 4 singles action.

Cowley is currently in fourth place with 35 points. Lee College is first with 41 points. Hillsborough is second with 40 points, while Tyler Junior College is third with 38 points.