IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Southeast Missouri women's tennis team commenced the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division I Women's Central Regional Championship Thursday at the Hawkeye Tennis Recreation Complex. Daniela Hlacikova, Ksenia Shikanova, Myroslava Zelenchuk, and Vivian Lai all secured victories on day one of the tournament in the qualifying bracket.
 
Zelenchuk defeated Flavia Gutierrez of Oral Roberts, 6-2, 6-1, in the opening round of the tournament. Her round of 64 opponent was Claire Slaughter of Arkansas who received a bye in the first round. Zelenchuk beat Slaughter, a Southeastern Conference opponent, 6-2, 6-1, to move on to the Round of 32 where she will face Lily Hutchings of Tulsa.
 
Shikanova cruised in her first-round match versus Regina Talavera of St. Thomas (MN), 6-2, 6-2, before winning her round of 64 match over Drake's Mille Haagensen 6-4, 6-1. Shikanova advanced on to the round of 32 to face Sonia Skobkareva of South Dakota.
 
Hlacikova fought past Maria Thibault of SIUE, 6-7 (4), 7-5 (10-2) to open the tournament. Following that first-round victory, Hlacikova lost to Maja Gledic of Central Arkansas, 1-6, 6-4, 4-10.
 
Lai battled with Thaissa Moreira of Northern Iowa in the opening round of the tournament. Lai secured a 6-1, 6-0 victory over the Panther to start her tourney run. She then dropped her second match to Gabriela Martinez Asensi of Missouri, 2-6, 4-6.
 
Romana Tarajova, Zelenchuk and Shikanova will also compete in the main singles draw starting Friday.
 
DOUBLES
The doubles teams of Hlacikova and Zelenchuk and Shikanova and Romana Tarajova competed in the doubles portion of the tournament for the Redhawks. Both pairs received first round byes.
 
Hlacikova and Zelenchuk battled with Florentine Dekkers and Ioana Gheorghita of Kansas State. The Redhawks dropped the match 7-6 (4).
 
Skikanova and Tarajova took on Missouri's Gabriela Martinez Asensi and Emelie Schwarte, falling 6-3.