ROME, Ga. – Sophomore Alina Kupfer (Baldham, Germany) of the Southern New Hampshire University women's tennis team made history by earning a spot in the semifinals of the singles bracket at the ITA Cup on Friday at the Rome Tennis Center.

Kupfer became the first Penmen ever to punch a ticket to the ITA Cup semis by defeating the University of Indianapolis' Tyffaine Pais, 6-2, 0-6, 7-5, in the quarterfinals. Kupfer would be meeting second-seeded Nadja Meier of Flagler College on Saturday (Oct. 14), but withdrew from the tournament because of her commitment to the team and its home match against Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at 2 p.m. A win in the regular-season finale would give SNHU a share of the NE10 Regular-Season Championship and the No. 2 seed for the upcoming NE10 Championship tournament.

Kupfer, who made the finals of the ITA East Regional singles bracket, received an at-large bid to the ITA Cup. The ITA Cup features the top 16 student-athletes from across the country, with two athletes qualifying from each of the eight regions, including the champion of each region.

Singles

Alina Kupfer def. Cristiana Miruna Tudo (Azusa Pacific), 6-4, 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 - R16
Alina Kupfer def. Tyffaine Pais (Indianapolis), 6-2, 0-6, 7-5 – QF
Nadja Meier (Flagler) def. Alina Kupfer, WD – SF

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