CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Three members of the University of Toledo women's tennis team advanced to the Round of 32 at the ITA Midwest Regionals on Friday. The competition is being held at the University of Illinois.
 
"I thought we competed really well today," head coach Tracy Mauntler said. "The players have matured so much in the last six months and it really showed today."
 
Sophomore Shalini Tallamraju won her first round matchup against Chicago State's Susana Andres (6-0, 6-1), and automatically advanced another round after her next opponent withdrew from competition.
 
Sophomore Cassie Alcala and junior Sloane Teske earned automatic byes into the second round, then won their matches to advance into the Round of 32. Alcala took down DePaul's Yuliya Kizelbasheva (6-3, 6-2) and Teske defeated Erika Dimitriev of Northern Illinois in straight sets (6-4, 6-1). Sophomore Julia Kuszynski also competed on Friday, falling to Illinois State's Alexandra Abyasova (0-6, 6-3, 6-3) in a hard-fought match.
 
Another day of competition awaits the Rockets on Saturday. In singles play, Alcala, Kuszynski, Tallamraju, Teske will all play at 11:30 a.m. local time. Alcala will battle Notre Dame's Julia Andreach; Kuszynski will face off against Eastern Michigan's Luisa Pelayo in the consolation bracket; Tallamraju and Michigan's Julia Fliegner, the No. 1 seed, will do battle; and Teske will take on Illinois' Josie Frazier.
 
Doubles play also begins tomorrow, with all four Toledo players competing. Alcala and Teske will play a doubles duo from Illinois State, while Kuszynski and Tallamraju will play against a tandem from Notre Dame. Both doubles matches will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time.