Sept. 30, 2012

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Jaklin Alawi and Dominika Kanakova from the South Carolina women’s tennis team came within one victory of advancing beyond the pre-qualifying tournament of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships on Sunday at Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Alawi and Kanakova defeated Klara Vyskocilova and Emma Levy from Tulane by an 8-6 score in their first match. Auburn’s Jackie Kasler and Jen Pfeifler then beat the Gamecock tandem 8-2 and became the first doubles team of the day to advance to the qualifying tournament of the All-American Championships.

Alawi will now get ready for the singles qualifying tournament that starts Tuesday. Her No. 63 national ranking allowed her to bypass the pre-qualies and head straight to the qualifying draw. She is looking to become the first Gamecock to play in the singles main draw since 2000.