WC women’s tennis begins national tournament

After the second day of national tournament play, the Weatherford College women's tennis team sat in 10th place among 30 teams. The NJCAA Division I Championships are being held in Tyler.

WC's Flight 1 doubles team, Hoziane Kitambala and Claire Mahere, came out of the gate strong, winning their first two matches and advancing to the quarterfinals. On Saturday, Kitambala and Mahere won their round of 32 match over Estella Cender and Victoria Sanchez of Glendale Community College (Arizona), 6-0, 6-2. They then defeated Ebonie Russell and Ilse Smaalders of Pratt Community College (Kansas) in the round of 16 on Sunday, 6-3, 6-1.

WC's Flight 2 doubles team also won their first round match. Juliana Jurado and Rosmary Pena defeated Aida Torrealba and Andrea Vasques of Mercer County Community College (New Jersey), 6-0, 6-0. Jurado and Pena received a bye in the Round of 32.

In singles, Mahere won her Flight 1 opener over a Hinds Community College (Mississippi) competitor, 6-1, 6-1.

Kitambala lost her first round Flight 2 match to a player from Iowa Central Community College, 7-6, 7-6.

In Flight 3, Rosemary Pena lost to a Pratt player 6-3, 6-0. She won a consolation round of 32 match over a Barton County Community College (Kansas) competitor, 8-6.

Juliana Jurado beat a player from Meridian Community College (Mississippi) in Flight 4 singles play, 6-0, 6-2. Jurado lost to a Collin College competitor, 7-6, 6-4.

WC's Kaitlyn Nicholsky won her Flight 5 round of 32 match over a player from Northwest Mississippi Community College, 6-0, 6-1. She lost to a Hillsborough Community College (Florida) player in the round of 16, 6-1, 6-0.

Annabella Sanchez beat a Bevill State Community College (Alabama) player in Flight 6, 7-5, 6-3.

WC was in third place after Saturday's day one action. After Sunday, the Coyotes had 18 points as a team. Cowley College (Kansas), Hillsborough, and Tyler led the event with 27 points apiece.