ITA Cup (Singles & Doubles Draws)

ROME, Ga. – Taking their place in the ITA Cup that they earned after winning the ITA West Regionals doubles draw, Academy of Art women's tennis sophomores Sofia Ragona and Yun "Nicole" Shiau picked up a win in their opening match, but would ultimately fall to the eventual doubles champions. 

Heading down to Georgia to face some of the best doubles teams in the nation, Ragona and Shiau drew a matchup against the tournament's No. 3 seed All-Americans Alexandra Borg and Georgina Groth of Rollins College in the Round of 16. Though Ragona and Shiau dropped the first set 6-1, they showed their determination and responded by outlasting Borg and Groth in the the second set 7-6(7). Coming down to the tie-breaking third set, Ragona and Shiau saved their best for last, fighting off seven match points and ultimately securing the upset over the No. 3 seed, 1-6, 7-6(7), 10-8. 

The reward for advancing to the quarterfinals was a battle with Mae Canete and Christine Canete of Central Oklahoma, and though they weren't seeded entering the tournament, easily handled their Round of 16 opponents in straight sets. Unfortunately for Ragona and Shiau, they would meet the same destiny, as it was the Canete duo that moved on into the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory to advance. Ragona and Shiau can take some solace in the decision, as the Canete pair would be the eventual champions, though they notably did not face off against a seeded opponent. 

Meanwhile, Ragona would also participate in singles competition, as she was entered into the West draw of the singles bracket. The opening round would bring about a showdown with Ashley Penhorn of St. Mary's, with Ragona even winning the first set, 6-4. That would be as much as Ragona would get, as Penhorn would come back to steal the next two sets and walk away with the win, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Ragona, Shiau, and the rest of the Urban Knights will return to the court on Oct. 23 when they take part in the Dominican Invitational.