Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics No. 91 ITA ranked Alexandria Walters

Midland, Texas - The Pepperdine women's tennis team had a successful opening day at the 2009 Midland Invitational advancing three players to the round of 16 on Saturday.

Sophomore Alexandria Walters and freshmen Arianna Colffer and Marie Zalameda made it through the first two rounds to advance to the round of 16. No. 91 nationally ranked Walters defeated Lauren White (ACU) 6-1, 6-1 and Elizabeth Ullathorne (Texas Tech) 6-0, 6-3. Colffer defeated Sophie Quist (SMU) 6-3, 6-0 and Monika Hadvigvropa (UTA) 6-2, 6-1. Zalameda was victorious over Jennifer Holmberg (Nebraska) 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 and Jessica Jackson (Rice) 3-6, 7-5, 10-6.

Senior Tanya Rice and junior Anamika Bhargava advanced to the round of 32 before suffering losses. Rice defeated Nikola Matovicova (UTA) 7-0, 6-2, before falling to Pichittra Thongbach (Boise State) 6-4, 6-4. Bhargava defeated Narine Kazarova (UNT) 6-2, 6-2. She was defeated by Shahzoda Hatonova (SMU) 6-3, 7-5.

Sophomore Andrea Oates fell in the round of 64 to Julie Chao (Rice) 6-4, 5-7, 10-8.

No. 71 nationally ranked Alex Llompart was the lone Pepperdine men's tennis player to advance to the round of 16 on the first day of the 2009 Midland Invitational in Midland Texas.

Llompart defeated Blake Boswell (Oklahoma) 7-5, 6-2, in the round of 32. The Pepperdine sophomore fell in the round of 16 held later in the afternoon to Josh Zavala (Texas) 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Sophomore Hugh Clarke suffered a first round loss to Joe Wood (New Mexico) 6-1, 4-6, 10-5 and was defeated in the first round of the constellation bracket by Jaden Phillips (New Mexico) 7-5, 6-4. Freshman Finn Tearney also fell in the round of 32 to Benjamin Chin (Texas) 6-1, 6-3, 10-8. Tearney defeated Connor Berg (New Mexico) in the first round of the consolation bracket, 1-6, 6-1, 10-1.

Women's Singles Round of 64

1. Alexandria Walters (PEP) d. Lauren White (ACU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Arianna Colffer (PEP) d. Sophie Quist (SMU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Marie Zalameda (PEP) d. Jennifer Holmberg (Nebraska) 4-6, 6-1, 10-5
4. Tanya Rice (PEP) d. Nikola Matovicova (UTA) 7-0, 6-2
5. Anamika Bhargava (PEP) d. Narine Kazarova (UNT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Julie Chao (Rice) d. Andrea Oates (PEP) 6-4, 5-7, 10-8

Women's Singles Round of 32

1. Alexandria Walters (PEP) d. Elizabeth Ullathorne (Texas Tech) 6-0, 6-3
2. Arianna Colffer (PEP) d. Monika Hadvigropa (UTA) 6-2, 6-1
3. Maria Zalameda (PEP) d. Jessica Jackson (Rice) 3-6, 7-5, 10-6
4. Pichittra Thongbach (Boise State) d. Tanya Rice (PEP) 6-4, 6-4
5. Shahzoda Hatanova (SMU) d. Annamika Bhargava (PEP) 6-3, 7-5

Men's Singles Round of 32

1. Alex Llompart (PEP) d. Blake Boswell (Oklahoma) 7-5, 6-2
2. Joe Wood (New Mexico) d. Hugh Clarke (PEP) 6-1, 4-6, 10-5
3. Benjamin Chin (Texas) d. Finn Tearney (PEP) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8

Men's Singles Round of 16

      1.      Josh Zavala (Texas) d. Alex Llompart (PEP) 6-4, 7-6 (3)

Men's Consolation Bracket

      1.      Finn Tearney (PEP) d. Connor Berg (New Mexico) 1-6, 6-1, 10-1     

      2.   Jaden Phillips (New Mexico) d. Hugh Clarke (PEP) 7-5, 6-4