Sept. 10, 2010
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Freshman Nika Khmolovska won two matches to advance to the semifinals to lead Old Dominion women's tennis Friday at the 18th Annual William & Mary Women's Tennis Invitational.
Khmolovska, playing in her first collegiate tournament, topped Virginia Tech's Katie Blow 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the first round. In the second round, she came from behind to upend Richmond's Mariana Arana, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. The Ukraine native will take on Richmond's Ripley Hartmeyer Saturday at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Flight E finals.
Sophomore Diana Ivanova won her first match of the season with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Eastern Michigan's Nino Mebuke. Ivanova dropped her second round match, 6-1, 6-2 to William & Mary's Anik Cepeda. Ivanova is back in action tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. against VCU's Alex Bara.
Another newcomer, Arina Alilueva, won her first career collegiate match with a first round win over EMU's Xu Chang, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. She was forced to retire in her second round match.
After dropping her first match of the day, sophomore Juliana Pires fought back to win a three-setter over William & Mary's Sydney Smith, 6-1, 1-6, 10-7.
The tournament continues all day Saturday and finishes up on Sunday.