SALINA, Kan.- William Woods Tennis programs travelled to Kansas Wesleyan this weekend to participate in the ITA Central-West Regional Championships. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body for collegiate tennis across the nation, with the winner of this tournament earning a qualifying spot in the ITA Cup Championships in Rome, Georgia.  

In doubles, the Owls #18 Men's team qualified two teams into quarterfinal matchups with the duo of Cole Horton and Tobias Hajeck falling to a solid pair from Bethel College (Kan.) on an 8-5 scoreline. The Owls #1 pairing of standout Noah Burton and Melo Duarte also fell in the quarterfinal matchup with a 9-7 scoreline versus Bethel's best duo.  

William Woods #21 ranked Women's Tennis also qualified two pairs into quarterfinal matchups. Kristina Dimitrijevic and Charlotte Ready ran into the #1 duo from Morningside College, falling 8-1. The Owls second squad of Mireira Simon Sanchez and Samya Sikand were retired by an 8-4 scoreline in their matchup against Texas Wesleyan's combination of Paulina Hudson and Zeynep Sila Ege.  

In Men's singles, Burton pushed all the way to the semifinal match before falling to Marcos Mendoza from Morningside College in consecutive sets. In the round of 16, Woods sophomore Thomas Geukemeijer fell in consecutive sets to Mendoza who would go on to play in the championship match. Making it out of the opening round of 64, sophomores Aoi Ooka and Horton both dropped their round of 32 matches with Ooka falling in consecutive sets with matching 6-4 scorelines and Horton battling back and forth to push a third set that was decided with a 10-6 tiebreaking point.  

Simon Sanchez made the longest run of the weekend for the women's team earning a place in the quarterfinals, but falling short in consecutive sets to #1 Line Jensen from Morningside. Woods' Samya Sikand advanced to the round of 32 before losing to Jenson.  

The Owls open up indoor season January 23rd at McKendree.