WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Daniel Llorente (Malaga, Spain/), Alejandro Martinez-Morilla (Madrid, Spain/I.E. Valdecas) and Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) all advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA South Central Regionals on Friday, highlighting MSU Denver's opening day at the tournament.
 
Meanwhile, all three Metropolitan State University of Denver doubles pairings advanced to the quarterfinals with two victories. Counting consolation matches, the Roadrunners compiled a record of 16-4 on the day.
 
"It was a really pleasing first day," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "Both teams came out and executed in their matches."
 
On the women's side, defending champion Porter defeated Rani Goodland of St. Mary's (Texas) 6-2, 6-3 in the first round, then beat Rebecca Osterberg of Colorado Mesa by the same score in the second round.
 
The fifth-seeded Porter (8-2) faces Faustine Palatte of Tarleton State (Texas) in a 7 a.m. MDT match Saturday.
 
Helena Steenberg (Skodsborg, Denmark/Naerum Gymnasium, Naerum, Denmark) also won her opening match for MSU Denver, defeating Ashley Ramirez of Midwestern State (Texas) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, but was knocked off by top-seeded Alicia Barbaroux of Tarleton State 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the second round.
 
No. 14 seed Alex Pessoa (/) was beaten by Kate Malazonia of St. Edward's (Texas) 6-1, 6-2, while Ainsley Winterrowd (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) fell 6-1, 6-2 to Ena Ovcina of Angelo State (Texas). Both Malazonia and Ovcina reached the third round. Pessoa had been 7-0 this fall. Both Pessoa and Winterrowd won consolation matches.
 
"The ladies continue to impress," Graetz said. "Helena had a win over a solid player and Tabi is still competing in the main draw."
 
In doubles, Pessoa and Porter combined to defeat Stephanie Prats and Amelie Saint-Dizier of Texas-Permian Basin 8-2, and then beat Virginie Becht and Zoe Gubbels of Angelo State 8-5. The unseeded Roadrunners pairing faces top seeds Ashley Ramirez and Maddy Coffman of Midwestern State on Saturday.
 
Steenberg and Winterrowd joined their Roadrunners teammates in the quarterfinals with two doubles wins: 8-5 over Madison Hoelting and Maria Briones of Texas-Permian Basin, and 8-6 over the second-seeded pairing of Valentina Martinez and Bethan Hayward of Angelo State. Next up is a match with Colorado Mesa's duo of Emily Beckley and Kristen Kirby.
 
On the men's side, Joey Tscherne (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy) joined Martinez-Morilla and Llorente as first-round winners.
 
The fifth-seeded Tscherne beat Felipe Diaz of Texas-Permian Basin 7-6 (5), 6-2 before falling 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4 in a hard-fought match against Anish Sriniketh of St. Edward's.
 
Martinez Morilla beat top-seeded Raul Stevens of Texas-Permian Basin 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5), then picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win over Teodor Antilj of Newman (Kan.). That sets up a meeting with No. 3 seed Pierre Marion of Cameron (Okla.) on Saturday.
 
No. 14 seed Llorente cruised past Riley Robbins of Dallas Baptist 6-1, 6-1, then advanced to the round of 16 as Ogulcan Deniz of Colorado State University-Pueblo retired with Llorente leading 6-1, 4-1. He plays third-seeded Chase Bartlett of St. Edward's on Saturday morning.
 
"The guys started really strong in all singles matches and fought until the end," Graetz said. "Alejandro won a thriller and Joey lost a heartbreaker. Sometimes that's how it goes in sports. For Alejandro to beat the one-seed and the previous regional champion was a great effort."
 
Llorente and Tscherne, seeded fifth, combined in doubles to defeat Michael Apple and Jose McIntyre of Texas-Tyler 8-5 and then moved into the quarterfinals with an 8-3 win over Robbins and Jacob Delao of Dallas Baptist. They'll face Ben Westwick and Alberto Diaz of Midwestern State on Saturday.
 
Friday's Results:
 
WOMEN
Singles, First round
Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) (MSUD) def. Rani Goodland (StM), 6-2, 6-3
Helena Steenberg (Skodsborg, Denmark/Naerum Gymnasium, Naerum, Denmark) (MSUD) def. Ashley Ramirez (MWS), 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Kate Malazonia (SEU) def. Alex Pessoa (/) (MSUD) 6-1, 6-2
Ena Ovcina (ASU) def. Ainsley Winterrowd (Lacey, Wash./North Thurston) (MSUD) 6-1, 6-2
 
Singles, Consolation
Pessoa (MSUD) def. Carolina Torrico (WNMU) 6-4, 6-2
Winterrowd (MSUD) def. Amelie Saint-Dizier (UTPB) 6-2, 6-1
 
Singles, Second round
Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) (MSUD) def. Rebecca Osterberg (CMU), 6-2, 6-3
Alicia Barbaroux (TSU) def. Helena Steenberg (Skodsborg, Denmark/Naerum Gymnasium, Naerum, Denmark) (MSUD) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
 
Doubles, First round
Pessoa/Porter (MSUD) def. Stephanie Prats/Amelie Saint-Dizier (UTPB), 8-2
Steenberg/ Winterrowd (MSUD) def. Madison Hoelting/Maria Briones (UTPB), 8-5
 
Doubles, Second Round
Pessoa/Porter (MSUD) 8-2 def. Virginie Becht/Zoe Gubbels (ASU), 8-5.
Steenberg/ Winterrowd (MSUD) def. Valentina Martinez/Bethan Hayward (ASU), 8-6.
 
MEN 
Singles, First round
Joey Tscherne (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy) (MSUD) def. Felipe Diaz (TPB), 7-6 (5), 6-2
Alejandro Martinez Morilla (MSUD) def. Raul Stevens (TPB) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5)
Daniel Llorente (Malaga, Spain/) (MSUD) def. Riley Robbins (DBU) 6-1, 6-1
 
Singles, Second round
Anish Sriniketh (SEU) def. Joey Tscherne (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy) (MSUD) 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4
Alejandro Martinez Morilla (MSUD) def. Teodor Antilj (N), 6-3, 6-3.
Daniel Llorente (Malaga, Spain/) (MSUD) def. Ogulcan Deniz (CSUP), 6-1, 4-1 (retired)
 
Doubles, First Round
Llorente/Tscherne (MSUD) def. Michael Apple/Jose McIntyre (UTT), 8-5
 
Doubles, Second Round
Llorente/Tscherne (MSUD) def. Riley Robbins/Jacob Delao (DBU), 8-3