WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Continuing individual action in the NCAA Championships on Thursday, Tech’s Paige Hourigan secured a round of 16 spot in both singles and doubles. Hourigan notched a three-set win in singles play and, paired with Kenya Jones in doubles action, the duo picked up a first round win to advance to Friday’s round of 16. All matches are being played at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
SINGLES UPDATE: No. 14 Hourigan captured a three-set triumph over No. 71 Aiwen Zhu in the second round Thursday. Hourigan collected a pair of breaks in the first set against Zhu, the second extending her advantage to 5-1. The Jacket held serve in the next game to pocket a 6-1 first set win. In the second set, the opponents were on serve at 3-2 before Zhu broke Hourigan to go up 4-2. Hourigan had break point against Zhu in the next service game to move back on serve, but couldn’t finish as Zhu held for a 5-2 edge. Hourigan held serve in the next game at 5-3 despite Zhu having two set points, but the Rebel served out the set at 6-3 to force a third set.
In the deciding third set, Hourigan earned a break to lead 3-1 and extended her lead to 5-3. The senior Yellow Jacket served out the match for a 6-3 third set win to secure a spot in the round of 16.
DOUBLES UPDATE: Tech’s top-ranked pair of Hourigan and Kenya Jones opened doubles play against Denver’s No. 30 Bianca Mok and Julia O’Loughlin on Thursday. Despite dropping serve in the first game, Tech battled back to move the first set back on serve at 2-all. With the tandems on serve at 4-3, Tech broke the Pioneers for a 5-3 advantage as Hourigan served out the first set for a 6-3 win.
The Pioneers forced a super tiebreak after claiming the second set, 6-3. Denver broke the Jackets to take a 5-3 edge in the second set and served out the set for a 6-3 win. Tech secured the match winning the tiebreak, 10-7, to advance to the round of 16 on Friday.
UP NEXT: In singles action, Hourigan will face sixth-seeded and seventh-ranked Arianne Hartono of Ole Miss in the round of 16 on Friday at 10 a.m. In doubles play, Tech’s Hourigan/Jones will face No. 18 Veronica Miroshnichnko and Eva Marie Voracek of Loyola Marymount in the round of 16.
RESULTS
No. 14 Paige Hourigan (GT) def. No. 71 Aiwen Zhu (UNLV) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
No. 1 Paige Hourigan/Kenya Jones (GT) def. No. 30 Bianca Mok/Julia O’Loughlin (DEN) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
