University of Minnesota women's tennis players Ida Malmberg and Ashley Schellhas went 2-0 today in singles play to advance to the round of 16 of the 2006 ITA Midwest Region Championships in East Lansing, Mich. In the doubles bracket, the Golden Gopher duo of Schellhas and Tijana Koprivica fell in the round of 16.

In singles action, Minnesota went 3-0 in the first round as Koprivica downed Caitlin O'Keefe of Ohio State, 6-1, 6-4, Malmberg cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Marquette's Erin Watkins and Schellhas earned a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Noriko Saruto of Western Michigan. In the round of 32, Malmberg edged Ohio State's Ally Mueller, 7-6 (4), 7-5, while Schellhas prevailed in a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 marathon match over Wisconsin's Kaylan Caiti. Koprivica, however, fell 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 to Beatric Csordas of DePaul. Malmberg and Schellhas will play in the round of 16 on Sunday.

In doubles play, Koprivica and Schellhas were dispatched by top-seeded Buck/Tefft of Notre Dame, 8-1.

2006 ITA Midwest Regional Championships
Oct. 21, 2006
East Lansing, Mich.

Main Draw Singles
Round of 64 - Tijana Koprivica (MINN) def. Caitlin O'Keefe (Ohio St.), 6-1, 6-4
Round of 64 - Ida Malmberg (MINN) def. Erin Watkins (Marquette), 6-2, 6-3
Round of 64 - Ashley Schellhas (MINN) def. Noriko Saruto (Western Michigan), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Round of 32 - Beatrix Csordas (DePaul) def. Koprivica (MINN), 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
Round of 32 - Malmberg (MINN) def. Ally Mueller (Ohio St.), 7-6 (4), 7-5
Round of 32 - Schellhas (MINN) def. Kaylan Caiti (Wisconsin), 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4

Main Draw Doubles
Round of 16 - Buck/Tefft (1) (Notre Dame) def. Koprivica/Schellhas (MINN), 8-1