Collins and Epstein Advance in Doubles at ITA All-American

Story Links

Oct. 1, 2013

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – The Virginia sophomore tandem of Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Maci Epstein (Winter Park, Fla.) advanced to the second round of the qualifying doubles draw Tuesday (Oct. 1) at the 2013 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Collins and Epstein defeated Mississippi’s Erin Stephens and Iris Verboven, 8-3, in the first round to setup tomorrow’s second round match against USC’s Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis.

Virginia’s Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Rachel Pierson (Princeton, N.J.) were eliminated after a close 8-7(6) loss to USC’s Brynn Boren and Zoe Katz.

Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas), Pierson and Collins were each eliminated in the first round of qualifying singles play. Georgia’s Silvia Garcia defeated Collins 7-5, 7-6(3) and Nauta dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision to Santa Clara’s Katie Le. Pierson lost 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2 to North Carolina’s Whitney Kay.

Collins and Epstein must win two more matches to move into the main draw, which will feature four teams from doubles qualifying.

Main draw action is set to start Thursday, Oct. 3. Elbaba, who finished runner-up to Florida’s Lauren Embree at last year’s singles event, is one of 24 players in the main draw. Senior Li Xi (Kunming, China) and Nauta will compete in the doubles main draw.

Singles semifinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions will receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 7-10 in Flushing, NY.

Follow the ITA on Twitter, @ITAtennis, for updates and news from Pacific Palisades or search for the hashtag #RivieraITA to find other tweets from those tweeting the events from the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships. Fans can also visit www.ITATennis.com for more information.