LAWRENCE, Kan. (10/12/23) Opening play at the ITA Central Region Championships Thursday at the Jayhawk Tennis Center, the Arkansas State women’s tennis team came away with seven victories, five in singles and two in doubles.

“What a great day for A-State tennis,” said A-State head coach Sujay Lama. “These ladies competed their hearts out and did not back down all day long. It’s so good to see them smile, have fun and believe in themselves and the hard work they put in the last couple of weeks. To have everyone in the main draw of either singles or doubles is huge for our confidence. It motivates us to look to even bigger goals.”

Nejla Zukic won two matches to advance to the round of 32 Friday against Mia Liepert of Minnesota. Zukic dropped the opening set against Cydney Rogers of SIU Edwardsville but won the second set 7-6 (7-3) and the tiebreak 10-4 to advance. Winning in straight sets over Maria Santos of Kansas State 6-2, 6-3, Zukic clinched the spot in the round of 32.

Sarah Millard and Yasmine Humbert won round of 128 matches to add to the victory totals for A-State. Millard topped Chloe Koons of SIU Edwardsville 6-2, 6-1 while Humbert rallied past Elisa Dornelles of Lindenwood 4-6, 6-4, 10-3. Millard fell in the second round to Ana Paula Martinez of Creighton in straight sets 1-6, 3-6, and Isabella Dunlap of Iowa State held off a furious rally from Humbert 2-6, 6-7 (8-10).

Abigail Thurmer dropped her opening match 6-1, 6-1 to Charlotte Keitel of Kansas State, but came back for a 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 consolation bracket victory over Addison Miller of Omaha. Humbert and Rebecca Brody teamed up to defeat a pair from Northern Iowa 8-5 in the qualifying draw of doubles. Thurmer and Emiliya Margolin made it two wins in doubles with a 8-6 triumph over a duo from Omaha.

Singles (Main Draw)
Sarah Millard def Chloe Koons (SIUE) 6-2, 6-1
Nejla Zukic def Cydney Rogers (SIUE) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-4
Nejla Zukic def Maria Santos (Kansas State) 6-2, 6-3
Yasmine Humbert def Elisa Dornelles (Lindenwood) 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Sarah Millard lost to Ana Paula Martinez (Creighton) 1-6, 3-6
Abigail Thurmer lost to Charlotte Keitel (Kansas State) 1-6, 1-6
Emiliya Margolin lost to Fabiana Labrador (Lindenwood) 6-0, 4-6, 3-10
Yasmine Humbert lost to Isabella Dunlap (Iowa State) 2-6, 6-7 (8-10)

Singles (Consolation Draw)
Abigail Thurmer def Addison Miller (Omaha) 6-3, 5-7, 10-6
Emiliya Margolin lost to Kaede Tada (Oral Roberts) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

Doubles (Qualifying)
Yasmine Humbert and Rebecca Brody def Sullivan/Mylavarapu (Northern Iowa) 8-5
Abigail Thurmer and Emiliya Margolin def VanPelt/Kelly (Omaha) 8-6