Gamecocks Wrap Up Play at ITA National Fall Championships

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – South Carolina squad members No. 29 Ayana Akli and No. 1 newcomer Sarah Hamner wrapped up play at the ITA National Fall Championship on Friday. Hamner advanced to the main draw quarterfinals and Akli advanced to the consolation quarterfinals in an action-packed day in the tournament.
 
In her first match of the day, Sarah Hamner faced No. 18 Salma Ewing of Southern California. Hamner won multiple break points in the first set to tie things up 4-4, but Ewing came out on top in a 6-4 decision. After going down 2-0 in the second set, Hamner continued to win break points and brought the set to six games all. In the tiebreak, she came out on top 7-6 (4) to send the match into a third set. Hamner then settled in quickly, only allowing two games to take the final set 6-2 and earn her spot in the quarterfinals.
 
In the quarterfinals, Hamner was set to take on Iowa’s No. 12 Alexa Noel. It would be a rematch of the ITA All-American Championship final, in which Hamner bested Noel in three sets to claim the title.
 
The first set was the fastest of the match, with Noel topping Hamner 6-0. Hamner was not ready to give up and fought back to earn the second set win 6-2. The third set was a closely contested battle, with Hamner and Noel winning games back and forth. 
 
When Noel was up 5-4, Hamner came back from four match points to tie things up 5-5. Ultimately, the match went into a third set tiebreak in which Noel came out on top in a 7-6 (1) decision to halt Hamner’s debut in the tournament.
 
In the consolation round, No. 29 Ayana Akli took on No. 110 Alicia Herrero Linana of Baylor. Akli was ready from the get-go and blanked Linana 6-0. Linana then put up a fight and came back to win the second set 6-4. In the third set, Akli settled back in to top Linana 6-1 and advance to the consolation quarterfinals.
 
Akli then faced Pepperdine’s No. 53 Lisa Zaar. Akli fought hard in a competitive first set but could not fend off the Wave, who took the set 7-5. In the second set, Akli continued to bring the heat, but Zaar came out on top 6-3 to knock Akli out of the consolation round.
 
With the conclusion of play in the tournament, the Gamecocks wrapped up their fall season. The full team will be back in action for dual match play in the spring.
 
Day 2 Results
Sarah Hamner (SC) def. No. 18 Salma Ewing (USC) 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
No. 12 Alexa Noel (IOWA) def. Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-0, 2-6, 7-6 (1)
No. 29 Ayana Akli (SC) def. No. 110 Alicia Herrero Linana (BAY) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
No. 53 Lisa Zaar (PEPP) def. No. 29 Ayana Akli (SC) 7-5, 6-3