ABILENE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's tennis team was led by Ivana Katavic at the ITA Regional Tournament hosted by Abilene Christian University at the Eager Tennis Pavilion on Saturday, Sunday and  Monday.

Katavic advanced all the way to the quarterfinals in the 64-person tournament before losing to eventual champion, Julia Mongin of Abilene Christian.  Katavic opened the tournament with straight set victories over Gia Montoya of CSU-Pueblo and Melanie Barnes of Tarleton State. 

Nicole Karakis nearly made it as far as Katavic.  She won 6-2, 7-5 against Tarleton State's Makenzie Mitchell and then took out ACU's Kaysie Hermsdorf in three sets.  She finally lost to #2 Amanda Moberg of Cameron 6-4, 6-2.

Andi Botha also had a strong individual performance for the Cardinals.  After losing her opening round match to fourth-seeded Micah Hermsdorf of Abilene Christian, she won three consecutive matches in the consolation bracket.  She knocked of Arkansas-Fort Smith's Amy Belanger and UT-Permian Basin's Krissy Chavez in straight sets.  She also took out Fort Smith's Madison Carr in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 10-6.

Taryn Strahl won her first round match over Cameron's Laura Winter 6-4, 5-7, 10-3 before losing in straight sets to Tarleton State's Karla Martinez who was the #5 seed.

Botha and Strahl teamed together in doubles action and won their first round matchup against a team from Arkansas-Fort Smith before falling to the #1 seed from Abilene Christian.

Katavic and Karakis were able to take their success in singles play into doubles action.  They picked up a first round victory over a Tarleton State squad and then bowed out in the second round against Oklahoma Christian.

The ITA Regional Tournament is the lone competition for the Cardinals in the Fall.

Results
Kelsey Reblin l. Julia Mongin, ACU - 6-2, 6-2
Kelsey Reblin l. Ashley Newell, Western New Mexico - 6-4, 6-4
Ivana Katavic d. Gia Montoya, CSU-Pueblo - 6-2, 6-2
Ivana Katavic d. Melanie Barnes, Tarleton - 6-4, 6-4
Ivana Katavic l. Julia Mongin, ACU - 6-1, 6-2
Malisa Vatanadilok l. Taylor Price, Arkansas-Fort Smith - 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Malisa Vatanadilok l. FLorence Boinon, St. Edward's - 6-3, 6-2
Andi Botha l. Micah Hermsdorf, ACU - 6-2, 6-2
Andi Botha d. Amy Belanger, Arkansas-Fort Smith - 6-3, 6-4
Andi Botha d. Krissy Chavez, UT-Permian Basin - 6-4, 6-3
Andi Botha d. Madison Carr, Arkansas-Fort Smith - 3-6, 6-2, 10-6
Taryn Strahl d. Laura Winter, Cameron - 6-4, 5-7, 10-3
Taryn Strahl l. Karla Martinez, Tarleton - 6-4, 6-3
Nicole Karakis d. Makenzie Mitchel, Tarleton - 6-2, 7-5
Nicole Karakis d. Kaysie Hermsdorf, ACU - 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
Nicole Karakis l. Amanda Moberg, Cameron - 6-4, 6-2
Jill Simon l. Leah Smith, Dallas Baptist - 8-3
Jill Simon d. Kellei Manes, CSU-Pueblo - 8-6
Jill Simon l. Abby Thompson, Arkansas-Fort Smith - 8-1

Doubles
Botha/Strahl d. Abby Whittemore/Taylor Price, Arkansas-Fort Smith - 8-3
Botha/Strahl l. Hannah Kelley/Micah Hermsdorf, ACU - 8-1
Katavic/Karakis d. Ivana Zecevic/Makenzie Mitchell, Tarleton - 8-6
Katavic/Karakis l. Maryfer Abreu-Roman/Gabriela Carrillo, Oklahoma Christian - 8-4
Vatanadilok/Reblin l. Amanda Moberg/Julia Puckhaber, Cameron - 8-3
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