Thursday was day two of the United States Handball Association Collegiate National Championships at Arizona State University. Forester players won two-thirds of their 36 matches on the day, including a pair of triumphs by sophomore Isaac Acosta, who joins two teammates among the eight players remaining in the Men's Open Singles Division.
Acosta is the least likely of the quarterfinalists, needing to win three times without a loss because he was not seeded among the top 16 before the competition began. One of the other seven won two of three matches and the remaining six are 2-0 so far. Forester seniors Nikolai Nahorniak and Victor Perez fall into the latter category. Nahorniak defeated junior Riley Kloss 21-8, 21-5 and Perez won 21-5, 21-8 in the round of 16.
On the women's side junior Maria Dugas and freshman Sandy Ng remain in contention for the Women's Open Singles title. Dugas prevailed 21-5, 21-2 and Ng won 21-2, 21-5 in the round of 16 on Thursday. Senior Sarah Brusig was defeated 21-9, 21-17 after opening with a victory on Wednesday. Fellow senior Nicole Moser and freshman Samantha Zender won earlier in the day before also falling in the round of 16. Brusig, Moser, and Zender will now compete in the A Division.
Men's Open Doubles play began on Thursday and Acosta teamed with senior Pat Jarvis for a 21-0, 21-7 victory in the first round.
Other Forester men to win on Thursday include Kloss to reach the Open round of 16, junior Dan Sterrett and sophomore Derrick Contreras in the B/C first round, and sophomore Clark Creasey in the C/Intermediate/Challenger first round. Freshman Geoff Douglas was also victorious in the Division II A/B/C first round.
Junior Ann Szutenbach and sophomore Amalia DeSardi split their first singles two matches of the competition and seniors Emma Swanson and Bianca Greene won for the second straight day. All four will compete in the B Division.
In Women's Division II action, senior Sheila Connolly and freshman Nicole Stroner recorded victories in the A/B/C first round.
Contreras and Creasey posted a 21-6, 21-7 victory in the first round of the B Doubles Division and won 21-0, 21-2 to reach the bracket's quarterfinal round. Creasey and sophomore Justin Novak split a pair of close matches, winning 21-4, 6-21, 11-7 in the first round and falling 15-21, 21-13, 11-5 in the round of 16.
Play will continue throughout the weekend as the Foresters look to claim their third consecutive men's, women's, and combined team titles.
