Shaak and Uhle Advance in ITA Atlantic Region Individual Championships

Erie, Pa. – There were eight Golden Rams in action today at the ITA Atlantic Region Individual Championships in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The number three seed in the doubles tournament were West Chester's Maddy Shaak (Myerstown, Pa. / Eastern Lebanon County) and Claire Uhle (Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissahickon). The duo advanced 8-1 over Edinboro's Roxana Yeh and Laura Lopez in their first matchup. They will face Mercyhurst's Carmen Mantecon Duro and Adina Spahalic tomorrow. In terms of singles, Shaak and Uhle both earned first round byes and advanced to the third round with their strong performances.

In the second round of singles, Uhle impressed with a 6-1, 6-0 score over Slippery Rock's Kylee Woodman. She is set to face Mercyhurst's Adrianna Jeffress for the quarterfinal tomorrow.

Shaak captured a win as well, defeating Edinboro 6-4 and 6-2. The senior will go against IUP's Ekaternia Minchankova with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal.

Slippery Rock got the best of West Chester early in the morning though, defeating a pair of Golden Rams in doubles to begin the tournament.

Freshman Sophie Rathmell (Lancaster, Pa. / MCaskey) and junior Alyssa Rees (Morgantown, W.V. / University) fell 8-1 to Slippery Rock's Kollah and Welsh in their first doubles match of the today.

A pair of West Chester seniors in Stephanie Cifarelli (Royersford, Pa. / Spring-Ford) and Abriana Nolan (Honesdale, Pa. / Honesdale) nearly upset Slippery Rock in doubles, but fell short with a final of 8-6.

Sophomore Rylee Power (Newtown Square, Pa. / Marple Newtown) and freshman Gracyn Towler (West Chester, Pa. / Unionville)were defeated 8-1 by Edinboro's Dasik and Vucenoviic. Power shined in her first singles match with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Charleston's Bridget Dillon. However, she would fall in her second match to IUP 6-2, 6-2.

Rees dropped her singles match to Slippery Rock's Stephanie Fortier in consecutive 6-1, 6-1 sets.

West Chester's Nolan fell 6-2, 6-4 against Charleston's Elise Edwards. In her second match of the day, Nolan would be defeated by Edinboro 8-4. Cifarelli dropped a tough one as well 6-3 and 7-5. Rathmell showed promise, despite losing 6-3, 6-1 to West Liberty's Andrea Puga. Her second match of the resulted in a tough 8-2 loss against Slippery Rock.

The ITA Atlantic Region Individual Championships will continue tomorrow.