TULSA, Okla. Two Kansas State tennis players earned opening round wins but failed to qualify for the main draw during pre-qualifying rounds at the ITA Central Region Tournament on Wednesday.

Fernanda Da Valle and Natasha Vieira defeated their opening round opponents at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center, but fell one win short of advancing to Thursday’s main draw.

Da Valle, playing in her first match of the fall after missing the first two tournaments rehabbing an injury, surrendered just one game to Southeast Missouri State’s Elise Nattier en route to a straight set win. Da Valle fell to Oklahoma State’s Jessica Collins, 6-1, 6-2, in her second match of the day.

Vieira spent the day playing Big 12 north division opponents and opening play with a straight set victory over Iowa State’s Chrissy Derouin before losing to Missouri’s Chrissy Svetlic in a third set tie-break.

Kansas State’s Tereza Prochazkova was outlasted by Arkansas’ Melissa Hoffmeister in a three set tie-break in the opening round.

The Wildcats have four players who will compete in Thursday’s main draw. The tournament marks the third event for the Wildcats this fall and runs through Sunday. The singles champion and doubles champions will receive a berth in the ITA National Indoor Tournament at Ohio State University.

ITA Central Region Tournament

Singles Pre-Qualifying 10/18/06 

Michael D. Case Tennis Center - Tulsa, Okla.

Round of 44

Natasha Vieira (KSU) def. Chrissy Derouin (Iowa State), 6-4, 6-1

Melissa Hoffmeister (ARK) def. Tereza Prochazkova (KSU), 5-7, 6-2, 13-11

Fernanda Da Valle (KSU) def. Elise Nattier (SEMO), 6-0, 6-1

Qualifying Round

Chrissy Svetlic (MU) def. Natasha Vieira (KSU), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 11-9

Jessica Collins (OSU) def. Fernanda Da Valle (KSU), 6-1, 6-2