After winning three titles at the Fall Invitational at Hellman Tennis Complex last weekend, the Cal women’s tennis team will play in their second and third tournaments of the season this weekend. The inaugural Women’s Collegiate Classic will take place Oct. 3-6 in Malibu and the Saint Mary’s Invitational will run Oct. 4-6 at the Timothy Korth Tennis Complex in Moraga.
Cal women’s tennis will feel the absence of its seniors, notably last year’s top-flight singles runner-up Maria Smith. The new additions seek to fill the gap, with freshmen Valentina Ivanov, Erin Richardson and Haley Giavara — who all won their first matches at the Fall Invitational. The trio will strive to advance in the blue (top-flight) singles and doubles events.
“I think our junior class was ready to step up,” head coach Amanda Augustus said. “We obviously miss ours seniors from last year, but I was pretty pleased with what I saw this weekend.”
There will be several players competing in each tournament. The 24th-ranked Cal junior Julia Rosenqvist will be looking to maintain her dominance after winning the top-flight singles and doubles crowns last weekend. Fellow junior Jasie Dunk, who won the doubles title alongside Rosenqvist, hopes to continue her streak and improve upon her exit in the gold (second-tier) singles quarterfinals.
Other players who saw success include senior Katerina Stloukalova, who won the gold singles title at the Fall Invite. Meanwhile, 42nd-ranked junior Anna Bright will seek redemption after losing in the blue doubles final against fellow Bears Rosenqvist and Dunk.
The upcoming events will see the potential reigniting of rivalries, with Saint Mary’s hosting their annual fall invite among those participating in the overlapping tournaments.
