Akli Advances in Main Draw and Narboni Wins B Draw at ITA Carolina Regionals
WINSTON-SALEM, S.C. – South Carolina newcomer No. 29 Ayana Akli advanced to the main A2 singles draw finals and freshman Chloe Narboni won the singles B draw on Sunday. Additionally, freshman Misa Malkin won the main A1 singles consolation draw.
In Sunday’s singles competition, No. 29 Akli faced Duke’s Emma Jackson for the second time this fall. Akli quickly got to work and bested the Blue Devil 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the finals in her main draw flight.
Akli, the No. 2 seed, has won four consecutive matches to reach the finals in which she will face top-seeded No. 35 Fiona Crawley of North Carolina. The South Carolina junior is 7-3 against ranked opponents so far this fall.
In the B draw, Narboni continued to dominate in her semifinal match against Clemson’s Alexandra Anttila. Narboni efficiently came out on top in a 6-2, 7-5 decision to advance to the B draw finals.
Narboni faced No. 2 seeded Ilayda Baykan of Furman in the final. Baykan took the first set 6-4, but Narboni fought back to claim the second set 6-2. It was smooth sailing from there as Narboni earned a 6-3 third set win to claim victory in the B draw.
Freshman Misa Malkin shined in the consolation rounds, taking on Furman’s Madison Dillon in the main A1 singles consolation draw semifinals. The South Carolina freshman took the first set 6-3, but Dillon came back with a 6-4 second set win to force the match to a third set. Malkin settled back in to take the third set 6-3 which allowed her to advance to the consolation finals.
Malkin then faced Lily Woods of Wofford in the final round of consolation play. She found her footing from the get-go, defeating Woods in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to claim the main A1 draw consolation title.
South Carolina’s Ayana Akli will continue with singles play on Monday at the ITA Carolina Regionals.
Day 4 Results
Singles
Misa Malkin (SC) def. Madison Dillon (FU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Misa Malkin (SC) vs. Lily Woods (WOF) 6-1, 6-1
Lily Woods (WOF) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 29 Ayana Akli def. Emma Jackson (DU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 83 Jenna Thompson (CU) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 6-1, 6-3
Chloe Narboni (SC) def. Alexandra Anttila (CU) 6-2, 7-5
Chloe Narboni (SC) def. Ilayda Baykan (FU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
