09 Oct 2024 Harding tennis trio set for ITA Cup

Posted at 9:01 PMh in Sports by

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. (AP) — Three Harding University tennis players will compete in the ITA Cup, the individual championship for NCAA Division II tennis, beginning Thursday at Berry College.

Senior Cas de Ruiter will represent the Harding men’s team in singles, making his first ITA Cup appearance. The Gouda, Netherlands, native qualified by reaching the semifinals of the ITA Central Regional in September. De Ruiter, ranked No. 60 in Division II singles last season, faces Cedric Drenth of Wayne State in the first round.

De Ruiter will also team with junior transfer Adrian Solorzano in doubles. The duo qualified by reaching the ITA Central Regional semifinals. De Ruiter, an ITA All-American in doubles last season, returns to the ITA Cup after finishing runner-up with former teammate Teodor Zlatar. They face Drenth and George Day of Wayne State in the opening round.

For the Harding women, sophomore Alexia Zarate Valdez will make history as the program’s first ITA Cup participant. The San Luis Potosi, Mexico, native qualified by reaching the ITA Central Regional finals and gained entry into the singles draw due to withdrawals from Barry University. Zarate Valdez’s first-round opponent has not been determined.

The ITA Cup runs from October 10-13.