Nov. 12, 2010

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. - Baylor's Karolina Filipiak played her way into the quarterfinals at the U.S. Intercollegiate Clay Court Championships on Friday in Bradenton, Fla.

Filipiak picked up back-to-back victories in the opening two rounds of the 32-player singles draw. In the opening round, the senior took a straight-sets victory over Mississippi State Maria Ryzhova, 6-0, 6-2. In the second round, Filipiak dropped the first set 6-1, but regained her form to win the next two 6-2, 6-3 over Oklahoma State's Kanyapat Nartanna.

"Karolina had another great day," assistant coach Alison Ojeda said. "After her performance two weeks ago at our HEB tournament, I was excited to see what she would bring to the court today. She continued to stay positive and mentally tough. I had a smile on my face when I called Joey (Scrivano) to let him know how proud he would be of the way she represented the Bears today."

Baylor's Aya Bara and Abby Stainback each took first-round victories, before falling the second round. Bara defeated Florida Gulf Coast's Melissa Narzissenfeld, 6-0, 6-3, but lost 6-1, 6-1 to Miami's Danielle Mills.

Stainback's first-round win came over Florida Gulf Coast's Morgan Bechtel by a score of 6-3, 6-1, before losing to Notre Dame's Julie Sabacinski, 6-1, 6-1.

Action continues on Saturday at the Lakewood Ranch clay courts, with the singles quarterfinals beginning at 11 a.m., followed by the doubles quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m.