Celia Ruiz Reaches Oracle ITA Masters Quarterfinals

Thursday, September 21

Malibu, Calif.

All Day

East Carolina University

Oracle ITA Masters

Photo by: Rob Taylor

September 23, 2017 | Women's Tennis

Malibu, Calif. – Junior Celia Ruiz reached the quarterfinals of the Oracle ITA Masters where she competed against some of the best talent in the country. In the opening round, Ruiz defeated Idaho's Marianna Petrei 6-3, 6-2. Petrei currently ranks No. 71 in the country while Ruiz became the highest-ranked player in ECU history when she checked in at No. 95 in the Sept. 12 Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.

In the round of 16, Ruiz was paired up against No. 2-seed Lauren Proctor of Winthrop. Winning the first set, 6-4, to the No. 55 player in the country, Ruiz battled hard to win 7-6 (3) in the second set securing a spot in the quarterfinals later that evening.

Pepperdine's Mayar Amed, who ranks 13th in the country, defeated Ruiz 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals eliminating the junior from the tournament. Ruiz becomes the first Pirate in program history to reach the quarterfinals of the Oracle ITA Masters.

In mixed doubles, Ruiz paired with UNCG's Thompson. They faced Pepperdine's Gulbe and Arizona State's Geerts who defeated them 6-4 in the opening round.