Women's tennis team in fifth after two days at national tournament

For the second straight day the Eastern Florida State College women's tennis team looked sharp and are now sitting in fifth place overall at the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament in Waco, Texas.

After all of the matches were completed, the Titans are in the quarterfinals in seven of the nine flights and have 23 points, four behind the trio at the top – Tyler Junior College, ASA Miami and Hillsborough.

"That's solid, I am happy with that and I think we are holding up well, another warm day in Waco, but we are fit and in a good place," Eastern Florida State College women's tennis coach Bobby Cashman said. "I think everyone is a bit tired at this point and it is a matter of will power and guts to some extent and who has that will to fight harder."

In No. 1 singles, Yuliana Monroy blanked Chantal Lozano 6-0, 6-0 to advance to the quarterfinals where the sophomore will face No. 5 seed Celia Morel of ABAC at 9 a.m. Tuesday for a spot in the semifinals.

Sarah Manseri also took care of business at No. 2 singles, beating Ariadna Jordan 6-1, 6-0 and the sophomore will play No. 3 seed Vasavi Ganesan Shanthi of ABAC in the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Dugleisy Linarez advanced at No. 3 singles with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Aletta Macheli. The sophomore will play Iowa Central's Paulina Jankun in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Emma Othmer had the match of the day at No. 6 singles as she battled Coraline Lamer for almost two hours, winning the match 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. The freshman will play No. 1 seed Mekella Erspamer of Tyler Junior College in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Shaeda Nickle battled the No. 1 seed Oceane Garibal at No. 5 singles, falling 6-1, 6-0.

Jaime Duque will play Barton Community College's Shai Cartmill in the No. 4 singles consolation quarterfinals as well on Tuesday.

All three doubles teams posted wins to advance to the quarterfinals which will be Tuesday afternoon.

The No. 1 duo of Monroy and Manseri went down 3-0 to start their match but battled back to win six of the next seven to take the first set 6-4 and the No. 5 seeds went on to win the second set 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals against No. 4 seed Vaentina Gonzalez and Mariam Mujawimana of Seminole State College.

Linarez and Nickle teamed up to post a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles and will face No. 3 seed Agustina Diaz and Vasavi Ganesan Shanthi of ABAC in the quarterfinals.

Jaime Duque and Othmer also cruised into the quarterfinals, winning 6-0, 6-2. The No. 3 doubles team will play No. 1 seed Oceane Garibal and Afrodite Tzanopoulous of Tyler Junior College in the quarterfinals.

"Tomorrow will be a bit tougher day, the draw gets tougher. I thought we played well but I think tomorrow's matches will tell us where we are overall," Cashman said.