Saturday, September 17
USAFA
8:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
vs
ITA Bedford Cup In The Mountains
Air Force Earns A Pair of Doubles Titles At Bedford Cup
9/17/2022 8:40:00 PM | Women's Tennis
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force women's tennis wrapped up day three at the 2022 ITA Bedford Cup In The Mountains this Saturday afternoon at the Air Force Outdoor Intercollegiate Tennis Courts. The Falcons had standout performances in doubles and the Bravo Draw singles.
Air Force claimed the Alpha/Main Draw title. The duo of senior Sydney Fitch and Alexis Odom defeated Zhu/Pinaieva of New Mexico State 8-5 in the semifinals. Air Force earned the title as they were slated to play BYU, whick does not compete on Sundays, in the championship match.
The Falcons also claimed the Charlie Draw title. Freshman Abby Cotuna and senior Shailla Alda had an 8-4 win over Pope/Luna of BYU in the championship match.
Cotuna will also play for the Bravo Draw title tomorrow after winning her semifinal match. Cotuna defeated Caroline Driscoll of Denver, ralling back in three sets 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Air Force will also play for the consolation championship in Bravo Doubles. Sophomore Andrea Le and freshman Ariana Van Houweling won their semifinal match over Jiao/Li of BYU 8-6 to advance.
Head coach Kim Gidley on day three play:
"We have had three big days of tennis competing in the Bedford Cup in the Mountains tennis tournament. With a very new team this year, we have all new doubles combinations, and the players really stepped it up. For the third time in four years, an Air Force doubles team has won the Flight A (alpha) Doubles – this time with the team of Sydney Fitch and Alexis Odom. This is the first time that Syd and Lexi and their styles of play really complement each other. In flight C (Charlie) Doubles, the team of freshman Abby Cotuna and senior Shailla Alda defeated BYU in the finals. We played a little more nervous today in the doubles, but found a way to compete and win. The coaching staff has seen a lot of progress in the doubles and we are expecting to get even better with each tournament. We have some strong senior leadership with Sydney Fitch and Courtney Swift. They will help continue to move this team forward. The match of the day in singles was the semi-finals of the Bravo Flight with Cotuna winning in three sets for the third time this tournament to make the finals. Abby finds a way to bring her game to a higher level when she needs it and is a real fighter. It will be fun to see her play in the finals tomorrow. Tournaments are great for our coaching staff to see what we are doing well and what we need to continue to work on so we can continue to move our program forward."
Competition concludes tomorrow beginning at 9 am.
Air Force Bedford Cup Day Three Results
Doubles
Alpha Draw
Semifinals
Fitch/Odom (AF) def. Zhu/Pinaieva (NMSU) 8-6
**Air Force earns A draw title with BYU not playing on Sunday.**
Bravo Draw
Semifinals
Ecton/Zhadzinskaya (CSU) def. Swift/Yun-Thayer (AF) 8-6
Consolation Semifinals
Le/Van Houweling (AF) def. Jiao/Li (BYU) 8-6
Charlie Draw
Final
Cotuna/Alda (AF) def. Pope/Luna (BYU) 8-4
Consolation Final
Hilario/Brilhante (USU) def. Mikkelson (ISU) and Dibble (AF) 8-3
Singles
Alpha Draw
Side Bracket
Megan Davies (WSU) def. Sydney Fitch (AF) 6-2, 7-6 (3)
Bravo Draw
Semifinals
Abby Cotuna (AF) def. Caroline Driscoll (DU) 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5
Back Side Draw
Rachelle Starreveld (IU) def. Alexis Odom (AF) 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
Charlie Draw
Semifinals
Valentina Rodas (IU) def. Kayleigh Yun-Thayer (AF) 6-4, 6-2
Delta Draw
Side Draw
Courtney Swift (AF) def. Sidnee Lavatai (USU) 7-5, 6-3
Consolation Semifinals
Selin Sepken (IU) def. Arianna Van Houweling (AF) 6-2, 2-6, 10-1
Air Force claimed the Alpha/Main Draw title. The duo of senior Sydney Fitch and Alexis Odom defeated Zhu/Pinaieva of New Mexico State 8-5 in the semifinals. Air Force earned the title as they were slated to play BYU, whick does not compete on Sundays, in the championship match.
The Falcons also claimed the Charlie Draw title. Freshman Abby Cotuna and senior Shailla Alda had an 8-4 win over Pope/Luna of BYU in the championship match.
Cotuna will also play for the Bravo Draw title tomorrow after winning her semifinal match. Cotuna defeated Caroline Driscoll of Denver, ralling back in three sets 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Air Force will also play for the consolation championship in Bravo Doubles. Sophomore Andrea Le and freshman Ariana Van Houweling won their semifinal match over Jiao/Li of BYU 8-6 to advance.
Head coach Kim Gidley on day three play:
"We have had three big days of tennis competing in the Bedford Cup in the Mountains tennis tournament. With a very new team this year, we have all new doubles combinations, and the players really stepped it up. For the third time in four years, an Air Force doubles team has won the Flight A (alpha) Doubles – this time with the team of Sydney Fitch and Alexis Odom. This is the first time that Syd and Lexi and their styles of play really complement each other. In flight C (Charlie) Doubles, the team of freshman Abby Cotuna and senior Shailla Alda defeated BYU in the finals. We played a little more nervous today in the doubles, but found a way to compete and win. The coaching staff has seen a lot of progress in the doubles and we are expecting to get even better with each tournament. We have some strong senior leadership with Sydney Fitch and Courtney Swift. They will help continue to move this team forward. The match of the day in singles was the semi-finals of the Bravo Flight with Cotuna winning in three sets for the third time this tournament to make the finals. Abby finds a way to bring her game to a higher level when she needs it and is a real fighter. It will be fun to see her play in the finals tomorrow. Tournaments are great for our coaching staff to see what we are doing well and what we need to continue to work on so we can continue to move our program forward."
Competition concludes tomorrow beginning at 9 am.
Air Force Bedford Cup Day Three Results
Doubles
Alpha Draw
Semifinals
Fitch/Odom (AF) def. Zhu/Pinaieva (NMSU) 8-6
**Air Force earns A draw title with BYU not playing on Sunday.**
Bravo Draw
Semifinals
Ecton/Zhadzinskaya (CSU) def. Swift/Yun-Thayer (AF) 8-6
Consolation Semifinals
Le/Van Houweling (AF) def. Jiao/Li (BYU) 8-6
Charlie Draw
Final
Cotuna/Alda (AF) def. Pope/Luna (BYU) 8-4
Consolation Final
Hilario/Brilhante (USU) def. Mikkelson (ISU) and Dibble (AF) 8-3
Singles
Alpha Draw
Side Bracket
Megan Davies (WSU) def. Sydney Fitch (AF) 6-2, 7-6 (3)
Bravo Draw
Semifinals
Abby Cotuna (AF) def. Caroline Driscoll (DU) 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5
Back Side Draw
Rachelle Starreveld (IU) def. Alexis Odom (AF) 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
Charlie Draw
Semifinals
Valentina Rodas (IU) def. Kayleigh Yun-Thayer (AF) 6-4, 6-2
Delta Draw
Side Draw
Courtney Swift (AF) def. Sidnee Lavatai (USU) 7-5, 6-3
Consolation Semifinals
Selin Sepken (IU) def. Arianna Van Houweling (AF) 6-2, 2-6, 10-1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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