CARY, N.C. — BYU's Bobo Huang participated in the main singles draw and teamed up with Emilee Astle in the main doubles draw at the ITA All-American Championships on Wednesday. Both Huang and Astle faced tough competition against some of the nation's top players.
A spot in the main draw of the tournament was earned by Huang, being ranked as the No. 1 singles player in the mountain region. The tandem of Astle and Huang secured a place in the main draw by also holding the No. 1 ranking in the mountain region.
Huang faced off against the nation's top-ranked singles player, Fiona Crawley of North Carolina. In the first set, Huang led Crawley 5-3 but lost four consecutive games, ultimately dropping the set. Crawley continued her strong performance, defeating Huang 6-4 in the second set, securing the match victory with a final score of 7-5, 6-4.
Head coach Holly Hasler praised Huang's performance, saying, "Bobo (Huang) narrowly fell short in singles against a US Open qualifier and the No. 1 collegiate player in the country. She showed focus, determination, and played with more heart than I've ever seen. It was an exciting match to watch and should boost her confidence heading into the consolation rounds."
Astle and Huang teamed up to take on the No. 3 doubles team in the nation, Jaedan Brown and Kari Miller of Michigan. Although Astle and Huang gave a strong performance and were narrowly defeated 7-5, 7-6.
"Doubles was a bit of a heartbreaker," said Hasler. "We had opportunities to win both sets, but they were a formidable team with powerful shots. This tournament represents a completely different level of competition, and it's encouraging to see that we can compete with the best players in the country. The girls conducted themselves professionally, and they are excited for more opportunities in the upcoming matches."
Following these closely contested matches, Huang and Astle will look to compete in consolation matches for the remainder of the tournament.