ERIE, Pa. - The Salem University women's tennis team competed and found success in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Championships over the weekend.    

Freshman and unseeded Julia Piatek of Poland battled her way through the ITA Regional Championship to reach the semifinals before falling to the No. 1 Seed Kristine Gegeshidze of Charleston and eventual champion of the tournament hosted by Mercyhurst University.

This was the best results in an NCAA tournament in the history of Salem women's tennis.

"Julia played her heart out all weekend and was a beast on the court. The ITA is one of the toughest if not the toughest tournaments of the year and for her to come in as a freshman and make the semifinals is big time. Julia has been on campus for three weeks and her sister back home in Poland deserves a lot of credit for her success as I have just started to coach her. Julia represented Salem on and off the court like a true champion. I am very proud of her," stated head coach Todd Tucker.

(32)- Julia Piatek (Salem) def. Luisa Agudelo (West Liberty) 6-3, 6-1
(16)- Julia Piatek (Salem) def. No. 3 Kaytya Minchenkova (IUP) 6-2 6-7 7-6
(Qrt.)- Julia Piatek (Salem) def. Eva Rubio (Bluefield State) 6-2 6-3
(Semi)- No. 1 Kristine Gegeshidze (Charleston) def. Julia Piatek (Salem) (6-3 6-2)
 
The freshman unseeded duo of Piatek and Karolina Glowinska found success as they made the semifinals of the doubles ITA Championships losing to the eventual champions Charleston. This was the best doubles result for women's tennis in Salem school history for an ITA event.

"Karolina and Julia came out firing on all cylinders. As a team, we work on our doubles quite a bit but for the two freshmen to step up and not be intimidated by the great teams in the tournament shows me as a coach that they love pressure. Upsetting the 3^rd seed in this tournament is a huge accomplishment, added Tucker."

(16)- Piatek-Glowinska (Salem) def. Erriad-Sculsky (West Chester) 8-4
(Qrt.)- Piatek-Glowinska (Salem) def. No. 3 Minchenkova-Andreotti (IUP) 8-4
(Semi)- No. 1 Gedehidze- Swann (Charleston) def. Piatek-Glowinska (Salem) 8-3
 
Glowinska finished strong after losing her first match as she battled back to win three matches in the consolation bracket before eventually losing in the consolation finals.
"Karolina got stronger and stronger with each match played. Her fight and attitude were incredible. Fighting through cramps the whole weekend. I actually made the comment in the van at one point that I had never seen a player dive for so many balls in my life. She does not know the meaning of the word quit. Graduate Assistant Coach Morgan Smith did an incredible job coaching Karolina all weekend. I have known Morgan her whole life, coming from the same hometown as I, Zanesville, Ohio and Karolina played with a Zanesville attitude this weekend," indicated Tucker.
 
(32)- Sangeeta Roopan (Mercyhurst) def. Karolina Glowinska (Salem) 6-3 6-3
(16)- Karolina Glowinska (Salem) def. Anita Ponti (West Liberty) 6-0 6-1
(Qrt.)- Karolina Glowinska (Salem) def. Isadora Matos (Fairmont State) 6-0 6-1
(Semi)- Karolina Glowinska (Salem) def. No. 5 Lacey Cohen (Slippery Rock) 6-7 6-2 7-6
(Final)- No. 7 Elise Edwards (Charleston) def. Karolina Glowinska 6-7 6-2 7-6
 
Freshman Ana Kunic won her first match before losing to the 8 seed Viola Lugmyer of Slippery Rock in a very tight match. With Kunic winning her first match it disqualified her from competing in the consolation bracket.

"Ana played great tennis the whole weekend and had chances versus Viola of Slippery Rock. In my opinion, Viola is one of the most dangerous players in the region and very well coached. Ana is going to be a star at Salem," stated Tucker.

(32)-Ana Kunic (Salem) def. Silvia Slusarciuc (Charleston) 6-2 6-4
(16)- No. 8 Viola Lugmayr (Slippery Rock) def. Ana Kunic (Salem) 7-6 6-3
 
"All of the girls played well and improved. I'm very proud of the girls it was a great weekend on and off the court. Shelby, Kristina, and Brianna had outstanding weekends. Kristina got two big wins. Brianna did not get a win but I have been working with her on the court nonstop. Shelby was instrumental in bringing the team together late Sunday night before dinner and her speech absolutely set the tone for the year," added Tucker.
 
(32) Olivia Warner (Slippery Rock) def. Kristina Vuksanovic (Salem) 6-4 6-1
(16) Kristina Vuksanovic (Salem) def. Jelana Vucenovic (Edinboro) 7-6 7-6
(8) Laura Huwe (West Liberty) def. Kristina Vuksanovic (Salem) 7-6 6-2
 
(16) No. 2 Frost- Plcevic (Mercyhurst) def. Vuksanovic-Kunic (Salem) 8-4
(8) Vuksanovic-Kunic (Salem) def. Rubio-Keznevic (Bluefield State) Walkover
(4) Power-Roelker (West Chester) def. Vuksanovic-Kunic (Salem) 8-3