SALT LAKE CITY The Kansas State women’s tennis team advanced through the first round of both singles and doubles play at the 2003 ITA Central Regional Championships held Thursday at the Eccles Tennis Center.

Sophomore Jessica Simosa, a No. 9 seed in the regional tournament, picked up her fifth win of the fall season with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Southwest Missouri State’s Maja Stanojevic. Junior Maria Rosenberg, also a No. 9 seed, defeated Oklahoma State’s Ines Furtmayr, 7-5, 6-1.

Seniors Hayley McIver and Paulina Castillejos also moved on to tomorrow’s main draw round of 32 in singles. McIver upset No. 9-seed Sandy Lukowski of New Mexico, 6-3, 6-3, while Castillejos beat New Mexico State’s Lejila Porobic, 6-3, 6-1.

In doubles action, the Wildcat combination of Rosenberg and McIver breezed past Ala Alvarez and Mali Gakovic of SMS, 8-1. Also moving on to the next round were Simosa and Castillejos, who defeated Marta Rubina and Maja Stanojevic of SMS, 8-4.

The Wildcats continue singles and doubles competition tomorrow beginning at 9:30 a.m. (CST). Live brackets with tournament results can be accessed via the Internet at www.UtahUtes.com.

2003 ITA Central Regional Championships
Oct. 22-26, 2003
at Salt Lake City, Utah

SINGLES
Main Draw Round of 64
(9) Jessica Simosa (Kansas State) def. Maja Stanojevic (SMS), 6-4, 6-3.
Hayley McIver (Kansas State) def. (9) Sandy Lukowski (New Mexico), 6-3, 6-3.
Paulina Castillejos (Kansas State) def. Lejila Porobic (New Mexico State), 6-3, 6-1.
(9) Maria Rosenberg (Kansas State) def. Ines Furtmayr (Oklahoma State), 7-5, 6-1.

DOUBLES
Main Draw Round of 64
Rosenberg/McIver (Kansas State) def. Alvarez/Gakovic (SMS), 8-1.
Simosa/Castillejos (Kansas State) def. Rubina/Stanojevic (SMS), 8-4.