Sept. 24, 2010

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Freshman Cristina Danaila earned her first career singles and doubles victories as a member of the Baylor women's tennis team on Friday at the Roberta Alison Fall Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

In singles competition, Danaila was one of three Baylor entrants, including Karolina Filipiak and Aya Bara, who each suffered first round losses. Danaila, the top seed in the Venus Williams Draw, took down UAB's Giorgia Romeo in straight sets. Danaila finished off Romeo 7-5 in the first, then cruised to a 6-2 win in the second set to earn a spot in the next round. She will take on fourth-seeded Jessica Stiles of Kentucky.

Filipiak's first-round loss came at the hands of Alabama's Mary Anne Macfarlane in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, while it took Mississippi State's Mariia Ryzhova three sets to defeat Bara. The Baylor freshman won the first set 7-5, but Ryzhova went 6-2, 6-2 in the next two sets to advance. Filipiak will face Samford's Taylor Morgan, while Bara will play Samford's Madelie Janse Van Rensburg.

In doubles action on the day, the duo of Filipiak and Danaila bounced back from an opening-round 8-2 loss to defeat the UT-Martin team of Anna Marie Herbold and Anna Winkelmann 8-2.

Action will continue on Saturday with the final round of doubles play and the second round of singles play beginning at 9 a.m.

BAYLOR RESULTS
SINGLES
Mary Anne Macfarlane (Alabama) def. Karolina Filipiak (Baylor) 6-3, 6-4
Cristina Danaila (Baylor) def. Giorgia Romeo (UAB) 7-5, 6-2
Mariia Ryzhova (Mississippi State) def. Aya Bara 5-7, 6-2, 6-2

DOUBLES
Kurdadze/Levy (Tulane) def. Filipiak/Danaila (Baylor) 8-2
Filipiak/Danaila (Baylor) def. Winkelmann/Herbold (UT-Martin) 8-1