The Binghamton University women’s tennis team began the qualifying rounds of the ITA Women’s Division I Northeast Regional Championships on Saturday in Hanover, N.H.. A quartet of Bearcats including Anna Edelman, Lauren Bates, Marina Bykovskaya and Jillian Santos were sent to represent BU at Dartmouth.
Senior Edelman has performed admirably thus far to lead the Bearcats. The No. 6 seed easily handed Irina Dementyeva a loss in two sets, 6-3, 6-2 in the round of 64, and continued her dominance in the round of 32, when she topped Annie Sullivan, 6-3, 6-1. The round of 16 was no different when Kristin Norton was the victim, 6-0, 6-4. With those three victories, Edelman arranged herself an appearance in the quarterfinals, where she again won, cruising to a two-set victory over Veronica Corning 6-4, 6-3.
Santos also found a victory of her own in the round of 64, handing Natasha Makarova a loss in two sets 6-4, 6-1. However, No. 15 seed Elizabeth Epstein ended Santos’ run in the round of 32. Marina Bykovskaya lost in the round of 64 to Misia Krasowski.
In doubles play, Bykovskaya and Edelman teamed up to roll through the first three rounds before falling in the quarterfinals 8-5.
Edelman is set to face Erina Kikuchi this morning in the semifinals of the main singles draw at 10 a.m. Should she win, she would participate in the championship match at noon.
‘By Jaki Goldner