Rodrigues/Bermudez Net Lady Saints ITA Regional Doubles Championship

Two years ago, the Lady Saints 'Paula duo' captured the school's first ITA Regional Championship in doubles action.  After a one year hiatus from the event, Seward County returned to the event this weekend in Oklahoma City and didn't miss a beat as Thalita Rodrigues and Staffany Bermudez teamed to earn the programs second title in the doubles draw, qualifying them for the ITA Small College National Championships in two weeks in Arizona. 

Seward sent three pairs to the court in the regional doubles draw, but Rodrigues and Bermudez were the only one to have any luck in the first round as they faced and conquered Jayhawk rivals Sarah Frendo and Barbara Broville of Cowley, crushing the Tigers duo 6-1, 6-1 to press on to the semifinals.  In the semis, the Lady Saints took on Seminole State and again had little trouble, advancing in straight sets with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to put themselves quickly into Sunday's title match.  Rodrigues and Bermudez continued to roll in the finals, hammering their second Cowley duo of the weekend 6-3, 6-3, earning Seward's second ITA Regional Championship in program history. 

Six Lady Saints went into battle in the singles bracket.  Seward saw their singles players go 3-3 in the first round of the draw with Bermudez, Rodrigues, and Nthabi Mogopodi moving on to the quarterfinal win after each put together straight set wins in the opening round.  Bermudez's run came to an end as she hit a buzz saw in Cowley's Sarah Frendo in the quarters while Mogopodi also fell to a Tiger player to end her tournament.  Rodrigues was the only Seward player to advance through to the semis as she got past Seminole's Zahra Finnegan 6-4, 6-1 to see another Trojan player in the round of four.  In the semis Rodrigues squared off against Seminole's top threat in Viktoria Seifert and was upset 6-4, 6-4 to see her tournament run end two wins short of a title. 

Rodrigues and Bermudez will now take their act to the desert of Arizona where they will take part in the ITA National Championships October 13-16 in Surprise. 

The Lady Saints will suit up as a team again next weekend when they go to Plano, Texas to take part in the Colin County Invitational.