2021 DII Women's West ITA Regional Singles Draw
2021 DII Women's West ITA Regional Doubles Draw

FRESNO, Calif. – Leading the way for Academy of Art women's tennis at the ITA West Regionals was the sophomore tandem of Sofia Ragona and Yun "Nicole" Shiau who together captured the championship in the doubles draw as the No. 2 seed. Ragona would also advance to the semifinals in the singles draw, nearly battling her teammate in freshman Viktoria Leth, who was able to advance to the quarterfinals. 

Starting at one end of the bracket as the No. 2 seed, Ragona and Shiau enjoyed a first round bye before playing their first doubles match in the round of 16, where they would take down the pair of Sarah Olmos and Taylor Barnes, 8-4. A withdrawal would give Ragona and Shiau a free pass through the quarterfinals, leading them to a matchup with Isabel Heras and Ava Neuberger-Higby in the semifinals, which they swiftly handled with an 8-4 win. The finals would be a battle of the No. 1 and 2 seeds, as Ragona and Shiau would face the top-seeded Colbeyshae Emery and Mary Brascia of Biola. In a match that would come down to the wire, Ragona and Shiau were able to outlast their opponents by a final of 8-6 to be declared the winners of the doubles draw.

"It is my first time playing [in the] ITA Regionals in California and I enjoyed this journey," Shiau said. "Even though it's hard, I am so happy that I had [Sofia] on my side to fight together. She gave me the support and energy to win this tournament together. I'm really excited for the Nationals in Georgia."

They were not the only ART U duo in the bracket, as the pair of Leth and freshman Erica Hellbe pulled off what was considered an upset on paper, ousting the No. 4 seed of Angelique Friedrich and Samantha Neilson in the round of 32, 8-6. However, Leth and Hellbe would not make it past the round of 16, falling to Gaby Carvajal and Brooke Fager, 8-5. Freshman Maria Vittoria Cassuci would also enter the draw with Alice Marques of Fresno Pacific, and the duo would nab a 8-6 win in the round of 32 over Courtlyn Lam and Savaughna Mayo, but would subsequently fall to the No. 7 seed Gina Dudley and Audrey Rafols. 

Advancing the furthest in the singles draw was Ragona, who would again enter the draw as the No. 2 seed and enjoy a bye in the round of 64. Set for the round of 32 was a battle against Alice Marques of FPU, with Ragona breezing to the easy straight sets win, 6-0, 6-3. Ragona's first seeded opponent, No. 11 Audrey Rafols, would appear in the round of 16 which needed a tie-breaking third set but ultimately saw Ragona emerge victorious, 4-6, 6-1[10-4]. Stepping into the quarterfinals against No. 8 seed Mary Brascia, Ragona was able to take care of business quickly and earned a win in identical sets, 6-1, 6-1. Unfortunately Ragona's quest to win the title in both singles and doubles would come to an end as she dropped her semifinals match with eventual singles champion and No. 6 seed Eleonora Liga in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. 
 
Also making an impressive run through the singles draw was Leth, who entered the singles draw as the No. 15 seed, and proved her seeding by dropping her round of 64 opponent Gaby Carvajal in two sets, 6-2, 7-5. It was also quick passage through the round of 32, as Leth easily disposed of Alyssa Zayat in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Awaiting Leth in the round of 16 was the No. 5 seed Thelma Sepulveda, but the step up in seeding didn't phase her as Leth snatched yet another straight sets win, 6-1, 6-3. That is where the run for Leth would end as she would be defeated by No. 1 seed Colbeyshae Emery in the quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-3. 

Entering the singles draw as the No. 10 seed, Shiau started her journey with a win in the round of 64 over Courtlyn Lam, 6-1, 6-0. The round of 32 also proved to be little challenge for Shiau, as she cruised past Deimante Bulatovaite in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. However, eventual champion No. 6 seeded Liga would deny Shiau the opportunity to battle against her doubles partner Ragona later in the bracket, winning their round of 16 battle, 6-0, 6-3. One more Urban Knight would grab a win in the round of 64, as Hellbe had to go to a tie-breaking set before dropping Maya Young, 2-6, 7-5[10-6]. 

"The team has been working really hard in our practices along with our fitness sessions and the results from ITA West Regionals these last few days are a clear result of all of their hard work and their effort," said Interim Head Coach Kevin Tan-Perkins. "Sofia and Nicole did really well in doubles by making the necessary adjustments based on the different opponents that they had and played really well together and communicated well. I'm super proud of the team for their hard work and I'm glad that they were able to advance to the ITA Cup Tournament in Georgia."

Ragona and Shiau will return to the court on Oct. 14 for the beginning of the ITA Cup, held in Rome, Ga. at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College while the team's next full competition will be the Dominican Invitational starting Oct. 23.