Thea still unbeaten in nationals

Former CNMI junior tennis player Thea Minor has yet to drop a match in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 National Championships in Tucson, Arizona.

Thea Minor, left, poses with her New Mexico Military Institute teammates before playing in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 National Championships in Tucson, Arizona, last Sunday. (Contributed Photo)

Minor, who is playing for the New Mexico Military Institute, won her first two games both in the singles and doubles events last Sunday and Monday at the Reffkin Tennis Center to make it to the quarterfinals.

In the singles contest, Minor is in Flight 2 of the main draw and pounded Amanda Bertoldi of Snead State, 6-0, 6-0, in the opening round. Up next for the Bronco player was the No. 8 seed Daniella Sanz of Barton Community College and the unranked Minor also took only two sets to prevail and march into the quarterfinals. Minor waltzed past Sanz in the first set, 6-1, before working out a tough 7-5 victory in the second set.

The Saipan Southern High School graduate will face another seeded player in the quarterfinals today as she goes up against the No. 1-ranked Megane Biano of ASA College. Biano got a free pass to the quarterfinals after a no-show from Shelby Gilliland (ill).

In the doubles, Minor partnered with Lorraine Banimataku of Vanuatu and they are seeded eighth in Flight 1 of the main draw. The Pacific Oceania teammates recorded their first win against Haileigh Harper and Marina Schmidt of Harford Community College, 6-1, 6-0, to move into the Round of 16.

In the second round, Minor and Banimataku were paired against Olivia Rolle and Michelle Chemally of Florida State College of Jacksonville and needed three sets to pull off another victory. The NMMI duo dropped the opening set, 4-6, but eked outa come-from-behind win after sweeping the last two, 6-2, 6-4.

Incidentally, Minor and Banimataku will have a familiar foe in the doubles quarterfinals as the Bronco pair will meet Bianco and Macarena Olivares, who are seeded first in Flight 1. The ASA College players drew a bye in the first round and marched into the quarterfinals after downing Sommer Champion and Vanessa Almanza of Collin College, 6-1, 6-2.

In the team standings, Minor’s NMMI is tied for 15th with Itawamba Community College as of yesterday with the two schools earning 12 points each. Points are given to schools based on the results of their players singles and doubles matches. There is a three-way standoff for first place with ASA College State College of Froida and Tyler Junior College getting 27 points apiece.