Fresh off of two home invitationals, the Bears understand what it takes to win as they have already had a multitude of success against several different squads. However, the stakes are magnified as they prepare to battle in the first round of the ITA Tournament.
All the Bears' events during this fall season have all been a setup towards the ITA Championships. With the experience they gained, they can go out and compete at a high level against some of the top teams in the central region. Those teams include Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Oral Roberts, North Texas, TCU, Missouri and Missouri State. Against some of the country's best teams, it will be an uphill battle in the ITA format. The schedule indicates that Friday will start the competition with the first two rounds of singles play and a consolation round. The field starts with 64 individuals and slowly dwindles with one loss sending individuals into the consolation round and two losses eliminating them. Doubles play will be similar on Friday as it starts with 32 teams and goes through the same format.
In this high-intensity environment, UCA will need to utilize their strengths and showcase their ability, just as they did at both of the UCA Fall Invitationals. The Bears have seen many of their younger players step up in the early goings of the season; this is especially the case for freshmen Jaeun Lee and Sumomo Hamanaga. Both players have put together a perfect start to the season, with Lee being 6-0 and Hamanaga beginning her college career with a 5-0 start. Hamanaga is also part of the lone undefeated doubles team as her and freshmen Maja Gledic have compiled a 6-0 record.
The No. 1 doubles team will also plan to make a deep run into the tournament as sophomore Chunxi Xin and sophomore Fuka Nonoyama have been successful in the season's early goings. The No. 1 doubles team for the Bears have produced a 5-1 record, with their lone loss coming from Arkansas State last weekend. Together they have been dominant and separate it has been much of the same. Nonoyama has enjoyed a 5-0 start to the season, and while Xin has been limited in singles play, she is still 2-1 on the season.
UCA hopes to continue this string of success as they enter into the first rounds of the ITA Central Regional Friday morning.
Quote from head coach Casey Wharton:
"We are so excited to be traveling this weekend and playing in the ITA. We are feeling fortunate to have the chance to be competing against some great teams, and I'm excited to see how we will do."
"We are looking better each week, so I am hopeful to see how the weekend will go. Game on and go Bears."
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BEARS SEARCH FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AT THE ITA REGIONAL - UCA Sports
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