Local breaks through
HERMOSA BEACH — There were several locals who competed in the qualification tournament of the Hermosa Beach Open Thursday, but just one broke through to today’s main draw.
Ashley Groothuis of Costa Mesa and her teammate Courtney Guerra of Simi Valley won three matches in the single-elimination tournament. Groothuis and Guerra wil take on the No. 7-seeded duo of Priscillia Lim and Taitana Minello today at 10 a.m. in the first round.
Today’s first round also features the No. 2- seeded team of former Newport Harbor High standout April Ross and Jen Kessy vs. Gabriela Roney and Lenka Urbanova, also at 10 a.m.
Groothuis and Guerra, seeded No. 2 in the qualification tournament, opened with a 21-15, 21-5 win against Angela Auer and Michelle Kuntz in the second round. They then took out Tiffany Rodriguez and Alicia Zamparelli, 21-19, 18-21, 18-16.
Groothuis and Guerra had to go another three sets to advance, beating Renee Bizzieri and Erin Grey, 20-22, 21-19, 16-14.
Olivia Waldowski of Costa Mesa and her partner Juie Romias, seeded No. 5 in the qualification tournament, reached the fourth round, where they lost. They opened with a 21-10, 21-8 against Whitney Johansen and Erinn Miller in the second round. They also beat Lynne Brinkman and Briana Hinga, 21-14, 21-13. But then lost to Juliana Evens and Kim McGiven, 21-12, 21-13.
Jen DeVore of Corona del Mar and her teammate Kelly McGlothlin won in the first round Thursday, beating Erica Lott and Blair Socci by forfeit. Devore and McGlothlin then lost in the second round, 18-21, 8-21, to Iwona Lodzik and Sarah Straton.
Brinkman and Hinga defeated former UC Irvine palyer Keegan Featherstone and Laurel Miller, 21-14, 14-21 in the first round.
In men’s action, the Corona del Mar duo of Radoslav Dvorsky and Miloslav Rousek was the only local team to reach the third round. They defeated Robert Lroch and Andrew Vazquez, 21-16, 21-19 in the second round, but then lost to Curtis Jackson and Dave McKienzie, 15-21, 16-21 in the third round.
Costa Mesas resident Fernando Sabla and his teammate Corin Bemus won in the first round, 21-11, 21-17, against Tanner Morris and Brian Waite, but lost to Tim Church and Justin Phipps, 21-19, 21-19.
Ryan Ammerman and Taylor Wilson, who both helped lead UCI to a national championship last year, also reached the second round. They beat a team featuring a local, Corona del Mar High product Jeff Carlson and Will Montgomery, 16-21, 21-18, 15-13. Daniel Dalanhese and Andrew Fuller defeated Ammerman and Wilson, 24-22, 22-20, in the second round.
Costa Mesa residents Soeren Schneider and Corey Spence lost in the second round, as Matt Ceran and Chris Icaza won, 21-14, 18-21, 15-12.
Costa Mesa resident Jonathan Nino, as well as Newport Beach resident John Pecora and Newport Harbor High product Adam Schlesinger lost in the first round with their respective teammates.
Today’s first round of the main draw features the No. 3-seeded duo of Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb and Coroan del Mar resident Sean Rosenthal, who play against Theodore Burnner and Aaron Mansfield at 10 a.m.
Ty Tramblie of Newport Beach and former UCI player Russ Marchewka, seeded No. 22, also compete in the first round, as does former Estancia High standout Matt Fuerbringer and Casey Jennings, seeded No. 7; Costa Mesa resident Hans Stolfus and Anthony Medel, seeded No. 10; and Newport Beach resident Jonathan Acosta and Paul Baxter, seeded No. 15.
— From staff reports
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