ARLINGTON, Texas – MSU Denver freshman Brooklyn Ross has advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA South Central Regional Championships.
 
Ross blanked Emily Sproston of CSU-Pueblo 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round, then knocked off Franka Sidicic of Texas A&M-Kingsville 7-6 (4), 6-4 to advance to an 8 a.m. MDT meeting Friday against No. 1 seed Valentina Gonzalez of Angelo State (Texas).
 
Ross' performance highlighted the Roadrunners' day.
 
"There were some really good matches today," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "Unfortunately, some of them didn't go our way, but that's tennis. The level of competition is definitely really strong here and it's a great opportunity for the women to get better."
 
Tabitha Porter, the tournament's No. 2 seed in the 64-player field after finishing second last year and winning the title in 2017, lost her first-round matchup with Angelo State's Dianela Rodriguez 6-3, 6-1.
 
Freshman Kayla Myburgh earned a first-round win over Sarah Megilligan of CSU-Pueblo 6-0, 6-2 before being defeated by Dallas Baptist's Kate Daugherty 6-2, 7-5. Helena Steenberg and Gala Castello lost their first-round matches.
 
Both Porter and Steenberg won their consolation bracket matches – Porter defeated Tilly Blasdale of CSU-Pueblo 6-0, 6-1, while Steenberg beat Melissa Ariza of Texas-Permian Basin 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.
 
Meanwhile in the 'B' singles draw, MSU Denver's Sara Iverson reached the quarterfinals with a win over Lucie Maitrot of Angelo State of 6-3, 7-6 (3). Mackenzie Hotan lost her two 'B' singles matches, but Ainsley Winterrowd bounced back from a first-round loss to defeat Grace Bell of St. Mary's (Texas) 6-1, 6-2 and stay alive in the consolation bracket.
 
In doubles, Steenberg and Porter, seeded seventh in the field of 32, lost their opening match to the team of Maria Garcia and Alice Thane of St. Mary's 8-6, while Ross and Hotan fell to the second-seeded team of Ashley Ramirez and Emilija Visic of Midwestern State (Texas) 8-4. Steenberg and Porter remained alive in the consolation bracket with an 8-2 win over Kylee Shannon and Camila Baeza of St. Edward's (Texas), but Ross and Hotan withdrew from their match.
 
In 'B' doubles, both MSU Denver teams reached the semifinals. Iverson and Winterrowd beat Andrea Ramic and Melanie Dreux of Angelo State 8-1, while Myburgh and Castello picked up an 8-3 win over Devon Austin-Canning and Ira Vogelmann of Dallas Baptist.
 
 
Thursday's MSU Denver results:
 
A Singles
Brooklyn Ross (MSU Denver) def. Emily Sproston (CSUP) 6-0, 6-0
Dianela Rodriguez (ASU) def. (2) Tabitha Porter (MSUD) 6-3, 6-1
Valerie Ruiz (TAMK) def. Helena Steenberg (MSUD) 6-0, 6-1
Dynada Patil (UT-Tyler) def. Gala Castello (MSUD) 6-3, 6-2
Kayla Myburgh (MSUD) def. Sarah Megilligan (CSUP) 6-0, 6-2
Ross (MSUD) def. Franka Sidicic (TAMK) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Kate Daugherty (DBU) def. Myburgh 6-2, 7-5
 
A Singles Consolation
Porter (MSUD) def. Tilly Blasdale (CSUP) 6-0, 6-1
Steenberg (MSUD) def. Melissa Ariza (UTPB) 4-6, 6-4, 10-6
Maria Delgadillo (ASU) def. Castello (MSUD) 6-4, 6-1
 
A Doubles
Maria Garcia/Alice Thane (StM) def. (7) Steenberg/Porter 8-6
Ashley Ramirez/Emilija Visic (MSUT) def. Ross/Mackenzie Hotan 8-4
 
A Doubles Consolation
Steenberg/Porter def. Kylee Shannon/Camila Baeza (StE) 8-2
Ross/Hotan withdrew
 
B Singles
Sara Iverson (MSUD) def. Lucie Maitrot (ASU) 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Maria Garcia (StM) def. Hotan 6-1, 6-2
Anna Schneeman (ASU) def. Ainsley Winterrowd 6-7 (6), 6-2, 10-2

B Singles Consolation
Winterrowd def. Grace Bell (StM) 6-1, 6-2
Chloe Dix (UT-Tyler) def. Hotan 6-3, 6-4
 
B Doubles
Iverson/Winterrowd def. Andrea Ramic/Melanie Dreux (ASU) 8-1
Myburgh/Castello def. Devon Austin-Canning/Ira Vogelmann (DBU) 8-3