Zoricic Advances in Qualifying Draw at All-American Championships

The sophomore knocked off two ranked foes to move into the third round.

10/03/06 11:30PM

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - Sophomore Katarina Zoricic knocked off a pair of ranked opponents and moved into the third round of the qualifying singles bracket at the Rivera/ITA All-American Tennis Championships presented by Fila. The No. 61 player nationally knocked off the highest ranked foe of her career in the second round and needs only one more victory to advance to the 64-player main draw.

Zoricic defeated the qualifying bracket’s top seed Dominika Diescova of Oregon in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round. The win improved Zoricic’s season mark to 4-2. Diescova entered the match ranked No. 26 in the preseason ITA rankings, the highest ranked foe Zoricic has defeated during her brief two-year career. As a freshman in 2005-06, she knocked off six ranked opponents.

In the opening round, Zoricic defeated her first ranked foe of the season. She rolled past No. 83 Ela Kaluder of Arkansas in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

The Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada native will meet Katrina Tsang of North Carolina in the third round on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Zoricic and Tsang will be familiar with one another having met in doubles during the finals of the 14th annual W&M Invitational. The W&M tandem of Zoricic and senior Megan Moulton-Levy defeated Tsang and Jenna Long to win the invite title. Tsang also won the Flight B draw of the W&M Invitational. She advanced through the prequalifying bracket before advancing to the third round of the qualifying draw.

Zoricic will need one more victory in the qualifying draw to join teammate Moulton-Levy in the main draw of the All-American Championships. Moulton-Levy is ranked No. 10 in the preseason ITA rankings. The main singles draw will begin on Thursday, Oct. 5.

Zoricic and Moulton-Levy have already earned a spot in the main doubles draw at the championships. The No. 22 duo nationally will begin competition in the 32-team bracket beginning Thursday, Oct. 5. The Tribe pair is a perfect 7-0 this season.

W&M Results from the All-American Championships
Singles Qualifying Bracket – First Round
#61 Katarina Zoricic (W&M) def. #83 Ela Kaluder (Arkansas) – 6-1, 6-1

Singles Qualifying Bracket – Second Round
#61 Katarina Zoricic (W&M) def. #26 Dominika Diescova (Oregon) – 6-2, 6-3