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University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, October 13
New Haven, Conn.
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University of Massachusetts
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Day Three
UMass Takes Four Matches During ITA Northeast Regional Day Three
October 13, 2018 | Tennis
Kovacevic, Lawrence-Taylor post two singles wins apiece, advance to Round of 16
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – University of Massachusetts tennis junior Janja Kovacevic and freshman Jodie Lawrence-Taylor advanced to the ITA Northeast Regional Round of 16 with a pair of victories each during the third day of competition at Yale University on Saturday.
"I'm so proud of the way all four players have competed through these three days," head coach Juancarlos Nunez said. "We've shown ourselves that we belong amongst the best in the region. Today, Janja (Kovacevic) played some very composed and disciplined tennis to take care of two strong opponents. In true Jodie (Lawrence-Taylor) fashion, she battled to get through in three sets against one of the top seeds from Columbia and then she turned around an hour later to dispatch a very good player from BC in straight sets. They both handled tough conditions like champions having to adjust from indoors in the morning to windy outdoor tennis in the afternoon."
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Kovacevic, who earned the No. 22 seed at the tournament and avoided playing in the first round on Friday as a result, dispatched Princeton's Rodilosso 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.
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The second round win moved the Zemun, Serbia, native into the round of 32 and set up a meeting with No. 11 seed Jennifer Kerr from Columbia. Kovacevic quickly worked in front of Kerr and earned the right to compete in the Round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-2 outcome.
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Lawrence-Taylor downed a pair of seeded opponents for her berth into the ITA Northeast Regional Round of 16, including No. 14 Melissa Sakar of Columbia and No. 19 Natasha Irani from Boston College.
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Lawrence-Taylor, a freshman from London, England, met Sakar in the second round and notched a three-set triumph for the trip to the third round. After Lawrence-Taylor won the opening set, Sakar evened it at 1-all before Lawrence-Taylor sealed the win 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
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In the round of 32, Lawrence-Taylor met a familiar foe in No. 19 Irani, who Lawrence-Taylor battled alongside Kovacevic in doubles play at the Bulldog Invitational on Fri., Sept. 28. The freshman from London capped the successful day with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Junior Martina Bocchi also competed in the second round of the singles draw on Saturday following her first round win over Saint Francis' Jean-Na Koo one day ago. In the second round, Bocchi met Boston College's Laura Lopez, but fell to Lopez 6-3, 6-3.
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Kovacevic and Lawrence-Taylor continue singles play on Sun., Oct. 14. Follow Massachusetts tennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassTennis).
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ITA Northeast Regional Day Three • New Haven, Conn. • Sat., Oct. 13, 2018
Singles (Main Draw) – Second Round
Lopez (BC) def. Bocchi (UM) 6-3, 6-3
[22] Kovacevic (UM) def. Rodilosso (PRIN) 6-3, 6-3
Lawrence-Taylor def. [14] Sakar (COL) 6-4, 2-6-6-3
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Singles (Main Draw) – Round of 32
[22] Kovacevic (UM) def. [11] Kerr (COL) 6-2, 6-2
Lawrence-Taylor (UM) def. [19] Irani (BC) 6-2, 6-3
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"I'm so proud of the way all four players have competed through these three days," head coach Juancarlos Nunez said. "We've shown ourselves that we belong amongst the best in the region. Today, Janja (Kovacevic) played some very composed and disciplined tennis to take care of two strong opponents. In true Jodie (Lawrence-Taylor) fashion, she battled to get through in three sets against one of the top seeds from Columbia and then she turned around an hour later to dispatch a very good player from BC in straight sets. They both handled tough conditions like champions having to adjust from indoors in the morning to windy outdoor tennis in the afternoon."
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Kovacevic, who earned the No. 22 seed at the tournament and avoided playing in the first round on Friday as a result, dispatched Princeton's Rodilosso 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.
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The second round win moved the Zemun, Serbia, native into the round of 32 and set up a meeting with No. 11 seed Jennifer Kerr from Columbia. Kovacevic quickly worked in front of Kerr and earned the right to compete in the Round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-2 outcome.
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Lawrence-Taylor downed a pair of seeded opponents for her berth into the ITA Northeast Regional Round of 16, including No. 14 Melissa Sakar of Columbia and No. 19 Natasha Irani from Boston College.
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Lawrence-Taylor, a freshman from London, England, met Sakar in the second round and notched a three-set triumph for the trip to the third round. After Lawrence-Taylor won the opening set, Sakar evened it at 1-all before Lawrence-Taylor sealed the win 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
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In the round of 32, Lawrence-Taylor met a familiar foe in No. 19 Irani, who Lawrence-Taylor battled alongside Kovacevic in doubles play at the Bulldog Invitational on Fri., Sept. 28. The freshman from London capped the successful day with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
Junior Martina Bocchi also competed in the second round of the singles draw on Saturday following her first round win over Saint Francis' Jean-Na Koo one day ago. In the second round, Bocchi met Boston College's Laura Lopez, but fell to Lopez 6-3, 6-3.
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Kovacevic and Lawrence-Taylor continue singles play on Sun., Oct. 14. Follow Massachusetts tennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassTennis).
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ITA Northeast Regional Day Three • New Haven, Conn. • Sat., Oct. 13, 2018
Singles (Main Draw) – Second Round
Lopez (BC) def. Bocchi (UM) 6-3, 6-3
[22] Kovacevic (UM) def. Rodilosso (PRIN) 6-3, 6-3
Lawrence-Taylor def. [14] Sakar (COL) 6-4, 2-6-6-3
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Singles (Main Draw) – Round of 32
[22] Kovacevic (UM) def. [11] Kerr (COL) 6-2, 6-2
Lawrence-Taylor (UM) def. [19] Irani (BC) 6-2, 6-3
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Players Mentioned
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