Women's Tennis Wraps Up ITA Regional Championships Play

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Finishing out its fall slate of tournaments, the Belmont University women's tennis team completed its weekend stay in Knoxville, Tennessee, Saturday at the 2023 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Ohio Valley Regional Championships. The Bruins picked up a singles win courtesy of freshman Vesa Gjinaj as Belmont's top doubles tandem of sophomore Mariia Hlahola and junior Anastasiya Zholdakova saw its quarterfinal run come to an end.
 
Seeded ninth in the doubles draw, Hlahola and Zholdakova were unable to overcome second-seeded Esther Adeshina and Sofia Cabezas of tournament host the University of Tennessee Saturday morning in the quarterfinals. Adeshina and Cabezas earned an 8-5 win over Hlahola and Zholdakova at the Lady Vols' Barksdale Tennis Stadium, snapping the duo's seven-match winning streak this fall.
 
The only other Bruin in action Saturday was Gjinaj, who cruised to an extra singles match win. Gjinaj blanked East Tennessee State University's Jana Rovira 6-0, 6-0 at the Tyson Family Tennis Center to conclude Belmont's play at the ITA Regional Championships.
 
The Bruins will begin their spring championship campaign in mid-January.
 
2023 ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships – Saturday's Results

Doubles
QF – No. 2 Esther Adeshina/Sofia Cabezas (Tennessee) def. No. 9 Mariia Hlahola/Anastasiya Zholdakova (Belmont) 8-5

Singles
Extra – Vesa Gjinaj (Belmont) def. Jana Rovira (ETSU) 6-0, 6-0
 
Follow Belmont women's tennis on social media – @BelmontWTennis on Twitter and @belmontwtennis on Instagram – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.