Alabama senior Shelley Godwin picked up a pair of wins Saturday securing a bid to the “B” draw quarterfinals of the ITA Southern Regional Championships held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Tide picked up a total of five singles wins on the day.
Six players represented Alabama in the singles “A” draw with three splitting matches. Despite dropping the first set 1-6, Paulina Bigos came back to win her round of 64 match by taking the second and third sets 7-6(4), 6-0 against Miami’s Alessa Weibel. In the round of 32, Bigos was tripped up by Florida State’s Katie Rybakova 7-6(1), 6-2. Tiffany Welcher was victorious in her opening appearance of the day 7-6(2), 6-4 to South Florida’s Allyn Mueller before stumbling against the Seminoles’ Lauren Macfarlane 6-3, 7-6(6). Courtney McLane picked up a win against Auburn’s Whitney Chappell in the round of 64 7-5, 6-2, but lost her next round contest to the Hurricane’s Michaela Kissel 6-1, 6-1.
Meritt Emery and Alice Tunaru’s round of 64 losses were extremely close two-setters. Emery fell 7-5, 7-5 to Bianca Eichkorn of Miami, while Tunaru was edged ever so slightly by Florida A&M’s Rachel Pye 7-6(4), 7-6(8). Taylor Lindsey was also tripped up in her first-round match falling to Ole Miss’ Kristi Boxx 7-5, 6-1.
Godwin took court for the Tide in the singles “B” draw where the senior enjoyed a very successful day. After a somewhat close 7-5, 6-4 win over Florida State’s Bonny Davidson, Godwin easily took control of Kennesaw State’s Lindsay Dillon winning 6-0, 6-0. Godwin plays South Florida’s Lauren Shumate at 1:00 p.m. (CST) Sunday.
Match play will resume Sunday and finish up on Monday.
RESULTS
Bianca Eichkorn (Miami) def. Meritt Emery (UA) 7-5, 7-5
Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Alessa Weibel (Miami) 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-0
Katie Rybakova (FSU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 7-6(1), 6-2
Tiffany Welcher (UA) def. Allyn Mueller (USF) 7-6(2), 6-4
Lauren Macfarlane (FSU) def. Tiffany Welcher (UA) 6-3, 7-6(6)
Kristi Boxx (Miss) def. Taylor Lindsey (UA) 7-5, 6-1
Courtney McLane (UA) def. Whitney Chappell (AU) 7-5, 6-2
Michaela Kissel (Miami) def. Courtney McLane (UA) 6-1, 6-1
Rachel Pye (FAMU) def. Alice Tunaru (UA) 7-6(4), 7-6(8)
Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Bonny Davidson (FSU) 7-5, 6-4
Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Lindsay Dillon (KSU) 6-0, 6-0
