PALM DESERT & INDIAN WELLS, Calif./TEMPE, Ariz. – California's Anna Bright continued a strong freshman season by winning twice on Friday to reach the semifinals in consolation singles at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships.
 
The Golden Bears also began play at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on Friday in Tempe, Arizona.
 
At fall nationals, Bright took on Wesleyan's Eudice Chong – the three-time defending NCAA Division III singles champion – in the round of 16. Bright lost the first set, but the first-year Bear rebounded to knock off the Wesleyan senior, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
 
The quarterfinal took place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where Bright faced Baylor's Theresa Van Zyl, another senior, and prevailed, 6-2, 6-4. In Saturday's semifinal, she will take on Syracuse's Gabriela Knutson.
 
"Anna's continuing to get stronger each match she's played," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "As a freshman, a lot of these opponents are new to her. In both matches, especially in the second match, she was able to adjust her tactics accordingly. Anna's been returning really well and using a lot of variety depending on what's needed with each opponent. We're excited to see her compete again tomorrow and hopefully get to play in the final on Sunday."
 
Bright improved her record to 15-3 with Friday's victories. Her record includes four wins as she reached the singles quarterfinals of the ITA Northwest Regional Championships and five wins as she took the title at the Saint Mary's Fall Invitational.
 
Four Bears also competed in the Arizona State tournament on Friday. Maria Smith beat San Diego's Gemma Garcia, 6-2, 6-2, in the singles main draw round of 32. But freshmen teammates Vivian Glozman (who lost to Oklahoma's Christie Brigante, 6-4, 6-1) and Jasie Dunk (4-6, 6-1, 6-1 loss to Notre Dame's Cameron Corse) both fell in the first round.
 
Smith, a junior, faced a familiar foe in the round of 16 in Fresno State's Katerina Stloukalova, whom Smith defeated, 6-4, 6-2, in the Saint Mary's Invitational quarterfinals. But the Bulldog won this time, 7-6(2), 6-3.
 
In the doubles, Glozman and Smith beat San Diego's Kati Kukaras and Nicole Anderson, 6-3, while Dunk and senior Audrey Mayer lost to USD's Garcia and Carolin Nonnenmacher, 6-2.
 
The ASU Thunderbird Invitational and fall nationals will end on Sunday.
 
Oracle ITA National Fall Championships
Nov. 3, 2017, in Palm Desert, Calif.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
 
Consolation Singles
 
Round of 16
Anna Bright (Cal) def. Eunice Chong (Wesleyan), 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
 
Oracle ITA National Fall Championships
Nov. 3, 2017, in Indian Wells, Calif.
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
 
Consolation Singles
 
Quarterfinal Round
Anna Bright (Cal) def. Theresa Van Zyl (Baylor), 6-2, 6-4
 
ASU Thunderbird Invitational
Nov. 3, in Tempe, Ariz.
Whiteman Tennis Center
 
Main Draw Singles
 
Round of 32
Maria Smith (Cal) def. Gemma Garcia (USD), 6-2, 6-2
Christie Brigante (Oklahoma) def. Vivian Glozman (Cal), 6-4, 6-1
Cameron Corse (Notre Dame) def. Jasie Dunk (Cal), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
 
Round of 16
Katerina Stloukalova (Fresno State) def. Maria Smith (Cal), 7-6(2), 6-3
 
Doubles
Vivian Glozman/Maria Smith (Cal) def. Nicole Anderson/Kati Kukaras (USD), 6-3
Gemma Garcia/Carolin Nonnenmacher (USD def. Jasie Dunk/Audrey Mayer (Cal), 6-2
 
Consolation Singles
Jasie Dunk (Cal) def. Nicole Anderson (USD), w/o
Vivian Glozman (Cal) def. Hanneke Lodewijks (NAU), 7-6(4), 6-1
 
Extra Match
No. 80 Marie Norris (TCU) def. Audrey Mayer (Cal), 6-2, 6-4