Bokhua Placed In Main Draw At ITA All-American

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – University of Colorado tennis sophomore Tina Bokhua is the first player in the Nicole Kenneally era to be selected into the main draw of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women's All-American Championships, held Oct. 3-11 here at the Riviera Tennis Club.

Bokhua is one of just 24 players nationally selected directly into the main draw. There were 64 players that begin play in prequalifying last Saturday, and eight of those players advanced to the qualifying round, which features another 64 players. On Tuesday and Wednesday, those 64 will be paired down to the final eight qualifiers that will join the 24 preselected into the main draw. Main draw play begins Thursday and will run through the weekend.

“It's exciting for Tina to be competing in the All-American Championships,” Kenneally said. “The exposure for her at the national level will be great and it's also great to have someone representing our program at this elite national event. The main draw is only a 32-player field with the best players in the country competing.”

In just her second season of collegiate tennis, Bokhua is no stranger to playing against the best players in the country. Playing in the No. 1 singles position most of last year for the Buffaloes, she racked up 12 singles victories and played five players ranked in the top 70 nationally, including both the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players during Pac-12 play. She took a set off of Cal's Maegan Manasse, ranked No. 2 at the time, last March and also took sets off two of the other four nationally ranked players she faced.

“I know more what to expect this year,” Bokhua said. “I've already seen the best players in the country, I know what the Pac-12 is all about and I'm more motivated to win this season. I'm going to see the best players in the country and that's awesome that I can play against them early in the season.”

Bokhua is the first player in Kenneally's 17-year career that was selected into the main draw, although some other Buffs have had success at the event. In 2006, Monica Milewski advanced through the three matches of qualifying, including a grueling 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, three-and-a-half hour marathon match against Renata Kucerkova of Fresno State, to advance to the main draw before falling in the first round.

Recent grad Julyette Steur played in the event the past two seasons, in 2013 she fell in the first round of prequalifying and in 2014, she advanced to the second round of qualifying.

Bohkua missed the CU Invitational, so the All-American Championships will serve as her season opening event. She views this event as a spring board to what could be a special season for the Buffaloes.

“The goal is to win,” Bohkua said. “So for now, that's what I'm focusing on and that's my short term goal. The entire team looks good, the mentality of the team is so much better, we are all motivated. I know I'm more prepared this year. I want to win this year.”

The Pac-12 has had great success at the ITA All-American Championships with individuals winning the singles championship in five of the last 10 years and in four of the last five years in doubles action.