TLU's Vega into main draw of USTA/ITA Small College Championships with straight-set win

TLU's Vega into main draw of USTA/ITA Small College Championships with straight-set win

(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University)

SUMTER, S.C.
– Texas Lutheran women's singles player Sofia Vega moved into the main draw of the ITA/USTA Small College National Championships with a 6-2, 6-3 win Wednesday morning over Courtney Lawless of Whitman College (Wash.).
 
Vega, the No. 2 seed, needed a win over Lawless to enter the tournament's main draw, which starts Thursday. Vega and Lawless met in the same play-in round last year, with Vega winning in three sets in 2013.
 
At the Palmetto Tennis Center, Vega broke twice early in the first set and then again later in the set. In the second set, she went ahead 5-1, lost serve and then won the match on her fourth match point.
 
"Today's match definitely put a lot of pressure over both of our heads, Courtney and mine, considering that this match meant either go home tonight or stay until Saturday," said Vega. "I'm really thankful that I was able to get past that mental barrier, play my game, and win."
 
"The plan is to rest and recover this evening and get ready for the first round tomorrow now that the worst is over."
 
Vega is the ITA/USTA champion of the Southwest Regional. Lawless is the champion of the Pacific Northwest Region. The champions of these two regions traditionally meet in the play-in match at the ITA/USTA Small College National Championships.
 
"We are very relieved to get through that match," said Michael Hunt, TLU's head coach for women's and men's tennis. "Just so much pressure on the players knowing that if you lose you go home. And to have to beat a top 20 player like Courtney Lawless is just such a tall task."
 
"Sofia stuck to her game plan for all but about two games, and when she does that, you have to like her chances. Now we know there are three more matches no matter what, so hopefully she can relax and just play solid tennis and enjoy the moment. It's a special opportunity, and we are grateful to be able to participate in this event."
 
Vega plays in the first round at 8:30 a.m. eastern (7:30 a.m. central) on Thursday against Megan Humphreys of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Win or lose, Vega will play at 10:30 a.m. eastern Friday and at 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. eastern Saturday.
 
Caroline Ward of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is the tournament's top seed. Andrea Madrigal of La Verne (Calif.) is the third seed, and Beatrice Rosen of Emory (Ga.) is the fourth seed.
 
The women's singles draw, after the play-in game, has eight women.
 
The winners of the DIII portions of the Small College National Championships qualify for the tennis Super Bowl on Oct. 12. The Super Bowl pits the DIII winner against the DII, NAIA and NJCAA champions.
 
No TLU Bulldog has ever won a title at the ITA/USTA Small College National Championships.