Oklahoma City, Okla. - The Southwest Baptist University men's and women's tennis teams had a strong opening day at the ITA Central Regional Championships. The Bearcats advanced 5 singles players and 3 doubles teams to the round of 16.

On the men's side top seeded Sherif Abohabaga picked up a 6-2, 6-3 victory over William Jewell's Marc Gratner and 6-2, 6-1 victory over Aymeric Autones to advance to the round of 16. Eighth seeded Gyorgy Agoston picked up a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Washburn's Chase Brill before taking down Ouachita Baptist's Dan Kaplun 6-2, 7-6. Chris Blodig was the final Bearcat to advance to the round of 16 on the men's side with a 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 victory over Harding's Chase Stumne and a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Emporia State's Paddy Cameron.

Marcel Castillo earned a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Harding's Pablo Trevino before falling to Northwest Missouri's Sergi Fontcuberta. Torben Semrau fell in the first round to the #7 seed Mohab El Zanaty 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 while Raul Caballero fell to Northwest Missouri's Youssef Sherif 6-2, 6-2. In the singles consolation Semrau earned a 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 victory over William Jewell's Amery Clews and Caballero picked up a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Emporia State's Matheus Mota.

In doubles play the doubles team of Gyorgy Agoston and Ferenc Agoston earned an 8-0 victory over Washburn's Horton/Brill to advance, while Abohabaga/Blodig advanced with a first round bye.

On the women's side Lara Soares had a first round bye, and then advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over William Jewell's Becca Richardson. Lucia Diaz also advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Nebraska-Kearney's Sherry Sun and a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Fort Hays' Laura Jimenez. Klara Vickov earned a first round victory over Augustana's Annika Teske 6-2, 6-2 before falling to Oklahoma Baptist's Olivia Charvat 6-1, 6-4. Lani Tuemmers also earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Missouri Western's Yasmine El Ghazi before falling to Arkansas Tech's Macarena Acosta 7-6, 5-7, 1-0.

In doubles play the doubles team of Soares/Tuemmers picked up an 8-3 victory over Southern Nazarene's Garcia/Samardzic while the doubles team of Vickov/Diaz falling to the #2 seed Staniszewska/Jackson of Augustana 8-5.

SBU will continue play on Sunday, October 2 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.