COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 24, 2021) – The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team opened fall play down at the Air Force Academy in the ITA Bedford Cup. The four day event began Thursday night and runs through Sunday.

Mihaela Kaftanova advanced into the semifinals of the Charlie Draw with a pair of wins Friday. Kaftanova opened with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Colorado's Ellen Puzak. In the quarterfinals, Kaftanova got a 6-3 and 6-4 victory against Alex Arkhipov of Idaho State. Kaftanova will play Saturday against CSU's Chunxi Guo.

Wyoming also got victories from Noesjka Brink, Ana Fernandez and Maria Oreshkina Friday, as those three split their first two matches. Fernandez won her opening match in a three-set battle, 6-3, 1-6 and 6-4 over Isabella Flodin of AFA before falling in the quarters to Sofia Markova, in another three-setter, 7-5, 2-6 and 4-6.

Oreshkina also won her first match, defeating Sol O'Lideadha of Idaho State in the Alpha bracket. Oreshkina lost her second match 1-6 and 4-6 to Anna Riedmiller of Denver. Brink rebounded from an opening match loss to win 6-0 and 6-3 in the consolation bracket over Andrea Cuquerella.

The Cowgirls opened the event Thursday night with the opening round of doubles play. The team of Ana Fernandez and Sophie Zehender picked up where they left off in the spring, opening with a 6-2 victory in the Alpha draw. The tandem were a 2021 Mountain West All-Doubles Team selection as a duo.

In the Bravo draw, Wyoming also picked up a pair of victories as the team of Brink and Kaftanova picked up a 6-3 victory over Le and Odom of Air Force. UW also got a victory from Serina Abriola and Ida Krause, 6-3 over the tandem of Arkhipov and Urso of Idaho State.

The Brown & Gold continue action at the Bedford Cup Saturday with both doubles and singles matches beginning at 9 a.m.

-WYO-