MIAMI (Nov. 3, 2017) – FIU senior Andrea Lazaro won two matches in the singles draw, advancing into the semifinals of the 2017 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships on Friday, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden facility in Indian Wells, California.
 
The FIU doubles team of Ulyana Grib and Maryna Veksler won in the quarterfinals and advanced into the semifinals of the doubles consolation draw.
 
Lazaro, a Barcelona, Spain native, defeated Oklahoma State's Vladica Babic 6-4, 7-5. Babic previously beat Florida's Anna Danilina, who was seeded No. 1 in the draw. 
 
In the quarterfinals, Lazaro topped North Carolina's Alle Sanford, seeded No. 5, by a 6-2, 6-4 score. This semifinal will mark her second of the Fall semester in an Oracle ITA tournament. She previously advanced into the semifinal round at the All- American Championships last month.
 
"It feels good to play again in the semifinals and I have been working very hard" said Lazaro. "I am going to stick with my routines and game plan, and I will fight!"
 
In doubles play, Veksler and Grib defeated Duke's duo of Ellyse Hamlin and Kaitlyn McCarthy 7-6, 6-4. Hamlin and McCarthy were seeded No. 1 in the doubles main draw and are currently ranked No. 25 in the Oracle ITA Doubles Rankings.
 
"We are very happy because this match showed that we are ready to compete against the best teams and beat them," mentioned Veksler after the match. "Wins like this help to build confidence in ourselves."

Play resumes Saturday afternoon with Lazaro's semifinal and after that with the doubles consolation semifinal.
 
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