Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina women's tennis team returns to action against a loaded field as it looks to show out at the ITA Carolina Regional Championship. The five day regional championship is scheduled to run from Oct. 16-21 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Play begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning, as the singles round of 64 gets underway.  

WCU has the opportunity to test its mettle against some of the strongest tennis competition in the nation, with eight teams ending last season ranked within the top-50 (North Carolina – 5, Duke – 6, NC State – 12, South Carolina – 28, Clemson – 38, Wake Forest – 40, Furman – 46, Charlotte – 49). While WCU won't be competing as a team in Chapel Hill, all six Catamounts on the roster are entered in both singles and doubles competition.  

Freshman Jenelle Roberts has headlined WCU's fall performance thus far, recording five singles wins in her first collegiate action. The rookie from Sugar Hill, Ga., notably recorded solo victories over Furman's Molly Robinson and Notre Dame's Esther Vyrlan at the Duckworth Fall Classic at Clemson. Roberts will be paired with sophomore transfer Keira Stewart in doubles play, with the duo most recently rolling 6-0 over Notre Dame's Esther Vyrlan and Jessica Kovalcik.  

Newcomer Mariya Dobreva recorded a signature win at the Duckworth Fall Classic as well, triumphing over Furman's Lily Doherty 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3. She picked up two wins in her first competition for the Catamounts as well, earning wins over Presbyterian's Roxana Valdes and Sofia Segui at the Emily McNall Classic.  

Thursday – Tuesday's Championship:
ITA Carolinas Regional Championships | Oct. 16-21 | Chapel Hill, N.C. | Chewning Tennis Center

Teams (25): App State, Campbell, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Davidson, Duke, East Carolina, Elon, Furman, Gardner-Webb, NC State, NC A&T, NC Central, Presbyterian, Queens, South Carolina State, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Western Carolina

Watch: https://tinyurl.com/83avensj
Live Results: https://tinyurl.com/ycxryavr

Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamount women's tennis squad will be back in action next week as they take on the first Southern Conference Playoff in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 24-26.