CARY, N.C. – Columbia women's tennis players Gayathri Krishnan, Malak El Allami, Fatima Keita and Sophia Strugnell wrapped up competition Tuesday at the ITA Women's All-American Championships at the Cary Tennis Park.
 
The duo of El Allami and Keita were the highlight of the trip as the team advanced to the qualifying doubles bracket. El Allami and Keita posted two convincing wins to earn a spot in the qualifying draw. The duo downed Amelie Smejkalova and Sophia Hatton (Clemson), 6-2, 6-1 in their first match before earning a 6-4, 6-0 win over Arkansas' Carolina Alonso and Olga Bienzobas.
 
With two wins under their belt, El Allami and Keita needed two more wins in the qualifying bracket to earn a spot in the doubles main draw later in the week. However, the NC State duo of Gabriella Broadfoot and Maddy Zampardo proved to be too much as El Allami and Keita were defeated, 6-2, 6-3 Monday.
 
Krishnan and Strugnell also played in prequalifying doubles, but were defeated in a three-set match to start the weekend. Krishnan, El Allami and Keita all played in prequalifying singles, but all were eliminated before reaching the qualifying singles draw. El Allami and Keita earned singles victories to start the weekend before both losing their second singles match.
 
RESULTS
Prequalifying Doubles
Barbora Pokorna/Tereza Dejnozkova (Iowa) def. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (COL) 4-6, 7-5, [10-5]
Malak El Allami/Fatima Keita (COL) def. Amelie Smejkalova/Sophia Hatton (Clemson) 6-2, 6-1
Malak El Allami/Fatima Keita (COL) def. Carolina Alonso/Olga Bienzobas (Arkansas) 6-4, 6-0
 
Qualifying Doubles
Gabriella Broadfoot/Maddy Zampardo (NC State) def. Malak El Allami/Fatima Keita (COL) 6-2, 6-3
Carson Tanguilig/Tatum Evans (UNC) def. Malak El Allami/Fatima Keita (COL) 6-4, 5-7, [10-4]
 
Prequalifying Singles
Gracie Epps (Oklahoma State) def. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Malak El Allami (COL) def. Ana Vilcek (Hawaii) 6-4, 7-5
Fatima Keita (COL) def. Scarlett Nicholson (Georgia Tech) 6-1, 6-4
Gayathri Krishnan (COL) def. Sonya Macavei (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-4
Eva Alvarez Sande (Washington State) def. Malak El Allami (COL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Tianna Rangan (Wisconsin) def. Fatima Keita (COL) 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3
 
UP NEXT
The Lions return to action next weekend for the Notre Dame Invitational. Action in South Bend, Indiana will begin on Friday, October 4 and wrap up on Sunday, October 6.
 
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