GEORGETOWN, Ky. — After four days of battle against 15 teams and over 90 individual competitors, a CU Tiger came out on top. Sophomore Vladyslav Ladygin took the ITA NAIA Southeast Regional Singles title, while senior Alejandro Soriano made it to the semifinal round for Campbellsville.
Ladygin won his first-round match via a bye, but quickly put away his next match, 6-4, 6-0. Throughout his next three matches he only dropped two games, beating fellow teammate Zach Baulch in the round of 16 to advance to quarterfinals. There he handed Adam Hornby of Dalton State (Ga.) a 6-4, 6-2 loss before defeating Ariez Heshaam of Cumberlands (Ky.) in the semis with scores of 6-2 and 6-4.
In the final, Ladygin faced Lindsey Wilson's top-ranked Denis Porcic, who had defeated Soriano in the semifinals, 6-4 and 6-2, to advance to the title match. Ladygin won a nail-biting first set, 7-6, but dropped the next match 4-6. In the third match, Ladygin took control again and dominated Porcic 6-1 to take the tournament title.
"Winning the ITA Regional is a great honor because our region is very strong," said coach Kyle Caven. "He deserves this honor."
With the victory, Ladygin will advance to the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in Sumter, S.C., starting on Oct. 15, where he will play against elite players from across the country.
"I think he is going to do very well at nationals," said Caven. "We just hope to keep Vlad progressing and staying healthy. Coming off a really solid season last year, we expect him to be a heavy contributor to our spring season."
According to Caven, the entire men's team performed solidly in both singles and doubles matches this weekend.
"Alejandro is a senior and has created a high level of expectation over the past couple of years," said Caven. "He is a nationally ranked player and fulfilled that this week. He will be a force for us in the spring.
Soriano's semifinal finish wasn't the only surprise of the tournament. Baulch made waves by upsetting No. 9-seed Markel Aramberri of Bluefield in the third round.
"He has a great game, and is putting everything together at the moment," said Caven.
Campbellsville results are shown below:
1st round singles:
(4) Alejandro Soriano (CU) (BYE)
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) (BYE)
Johann Fuzellier (CU) (BYE)
Eduardo Mendoza (CU) (BYE)
Zach Baulch (CU) def. Tom Roidl (Brescia), 6-1, 6-1.
2nd round:
(4) Alejandro Soriano (CU) def. Turilo Duck (Brescia) 6-1, 6-0.
Nick Roby (IUS) def. Johann Fuzellier (CU) 6-2, 6-0.
Jose Ruda (Dalton) def. Eduardo Mendoza (CU) 6-2, 7-6.
Zach Baulch (CU) def. Daniel Emirzian (Martin Methodist) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0.
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. Farith Lozano (MM) 6-4, 6-0.
3rd round:
(4) Alejandro Soriano (CU) def. Colin Bumann (Milligan), 6-1, 6-3.
Zach Baulch (CU) def. (9) Markel Aramberri (Bluefield), 7-5, 6-2.
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. Eric Bernabeu (Pikeville), 6-0, 6-1.
4th round:
(4) Alejandro Soriano (CU) def. Jakov Tshirkin (Cumberland), 7-6, 6-1.
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. Zach Baulch (CU), 6-0, 6-0.
Quarterfinals:
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. (9) Adam Hornby (Dalton), 6-4, 6-2.
(4) Alejandro Soriano (CU) def. (9) Federico Staksrud (TWC), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Semifinals:
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. (3) Ariez Heshaam (U. Cumberlands), 6-2, 6-4.
(1) Denis Porcic (LWC) def. (4) Alejandro Soriano (CU), 6-4, 6-2.
Final:
(2) Vladyslav Ladygin (CU) def. (1) Denis Porcic (LWC), 7-6, 4-6, 6-1.
The No. 2-seed pair of Soriano/Ladygin also competed for CU in the doubles tournament, falling short just two games in. Teammates Baulch/Mendoza fell in the second round.
Lindsey Wilson's Porcic and Mendez took the men's doubles title.
Doubles:
1st round:
Baulch/Mendoza (CU) BYE
(2) Soriano/Ladygin (CU) BYE
2nd round:
Quesada/Emirzian (MM) def. Baulch/Mendoza (CU), 8-3.
(2) Soriano/Ladygin (CU) def. Reyes/Sgubin (Pike), 8-5.
3rd round:
Staksrud/Lladro (TWC) def. (2) Soriano/Ladygin (CU), 9-7.
On the women's side, all of the Lady Tigers in the 55-player field were freshmen. Fifth-ranked Majella Nobile impressed by earning her way to the quarterfinals. Fellow newcomer Bolor Enkhbayar, ranked ninth, made it to the third round before falling to competition from Cumberland (Tenn.).
"We had solid performances from all of our girls at the ITA," said Caven. "Majella is a super fighter and proved that all the way through the tournament. She has proved in the first two tournaments that she is willing to stay out there as long as needed to get the victory."
"Bolor, Jade, and Elizabeth all competed very well, and we are very proud. They showed that they can win matches at a good level and have what it takes to continue the success that our previous teams have put together."
Isabella Dale of Cumberlands (Ky.) took the women's singles title.
Campbellsville results are shown below:
Singles:
1st round:
(5) Majella Nobile (CU) BYE
Elizabeth Boik (CU) def. Laura Ross (Asbury), 7-6, 3-6, 1-0.
(9) Bolor Enkhbayar (CU) def. Chelsea Powell (Dalton), 6-1, 6-2.
(9) Sarah Edwards (Cumb) def. Jade Letheby (CU), 6-1, 6-3.
2nd round:
(5) Majella Nobile (CU) def. Alexis Applegate (IUS), 6-4, 6-1.
(9) Gema Yusta (MM) def. Elizabeth Boik (CU), 6-3. 6-3.
Franki Jecker (Cumb) def. Bolor Enkhbayar (CU), 6-3, 7-6.
Quarterfinals:
(1) Henar Munoz (LWC) def. (5) Majella Nobile (CU), 6-3, 6-1.
The women's doubles competition proved to be stiff as two pairs of Lady Tigers were eliminated early in bracket play. The pair of Letheby/Boik dropped their first-round match, while No. 5-seed Nobile/Enkhbayar were knocked out just one round later.
Tarsha DeSouza and Angelica Sepulveda were the women's doubles champions from Cumberland (Tenn.).
1st round:
Frank/Ikerd (IUS) def. Letheby/Boik (CU), 8-3.
(5) Nobile/Enkhbayar (CU) def. Conyers/Alford (Asbury), 9-8.
2nd round:
Shankar/Aguirre (Cumb) def. (5) Nobile/Enkhbayar (CU), 8-6.
Caven used the tournament as an opportunity to scout the Mid-South Conference competition that lies ahead in the coming 2016 season.
"Since all of our girls are new to the court, this is a great experience to see the faces of the conference," said Caven. "The MSC especially is very solid this year for both the men and women. For the women you will see three top 25 ranked teams this year in the beginning and the men will have 4-5 teams ranked."
Tiger and Lady Tiger Tennis will play a few more tournaments in the fall season before diving into spring play after Christmas break.
"We are really happy with our level of play at the moment," said Caven. "Hopefully as we progress through the fall, we will continue to get better and show why we will be a team to beat in the spring."
The USTA/ITA Small College Nationals takes place in Sumter, S.C., from Oct. 15-18, where Ladygin will represent Campbellsville.
