Dolzhenko Advances to Tuesday's ITA Regional Semifinals
10/12/2026 2:01:00 PM | Women's Tennis
CINCINNATI – Prior to the 2026 season, the furthest Lipscomb University Women's Tennis player has advanced at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships is the Round of 16. On Monday, two players faced foes in the quarterfinals, with Mariia Dolzhenko taking down the top seed in the region to move on to Tuesday's semifinals.Â
Deborah Dominguez Collado and Dolzhenko have advanced to the final eight, joining individuals from the University of Tennessee, the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt University.
Prior to this season, the Bisons have only advanced to the Round of 16 at the ITA twice in program history: Sasha Dobranos (2023) and Sofiia Paladi (2024).
Deborah Dominguez Collado worked her way through the qualifying draw to advance to the main draw, defeating players from Indiana, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Purdue.
In her Sunday matchup with Nehir Dogan of Purdue, she overcame a 4-7 tiebreak loss to win the third and deciding set, 6-2, to advance to Monday's quarterfinal.Â
Unfortunately, Julia Zhu from Kentucky, ranked third in the region and 56th nationally in singles, ended Dominguez Collado's run with a 1-6, 3-6 loss in the round of eight.Â
Dominguez Collado:Â
Qualifying Round 1 – defeated Gabby Gregg (Indiana) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
Qualifying Round 2 – defeated Danielle Forte (Cincinnati), 6-4, 6-4
Main Round of 64 – defeated Sarah Mildren (Tennessee) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
Round of 32 – defeated Gabrielle Guenther (Cincinnati) 7-6 (2), 6-4
Round of 16 – defeated Nehir Dogan (Purdue) – 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2
Mariia Dolzhenko has earned victories over Purdue, Kentucky and Tennessee to make it to the final eight.Â
Saturday against Norina Bak Szabo of Kentucky, after dropping the first frame 2-6, she rallied to win the next two, 6-3, 6-3.Â
Monday, taking on the region's top seed and No. 14 nationally ranked Valeria Ray of Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals, she won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to earn the Bisons' highest win over a ranked opponent in program history.Â
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Dolzhenko:
Round of 64 – defeated Aleksandra Kyselova (Purdue), 6-1, 7-5
Round of 32 – defeated Norina Bak Szabo (Kentucky), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Round of 16 – defeated Alyson Shannon (Tennessee), 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals – defeated No. 14 Valeria Ray (Vanderbilt), 7-5, 6-4
Dolzhenko will face off with Zhu of Kentucky Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Winners of the semifinal rounds will play in the championship match on Wednesday. All remaining matches will take place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in nearby Mason, Ohio.Â
Deborah Dominguez Collado and Dolzhenko have advanced to the final eight, joining individuals from the University of Tennessee, the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt University.
Prior to this season, the Bisons have only advanced to the Round of 16 at the ITA twice in program history: Sasha Dobranos (2023) and Sofiia Paladi (2024).
Deborah Dominguez Collado worked her way through the qualifying draw to advance to the main draw, defeating players from Indiana, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Purdue.
In her Sunday matchup with Nehir Dogan of Purdue, she overcame a 4-7 tiebreak loss to win the third and deciding set, 6-2, to advance to Monday's quarterfinal.Â
Unfortunately, Julia Zhu from Kentucky, ranked third in the region and 56th nationally in singles, ended Dominguez Collado's run with a 1-6, 3-6 loss in the round of eight.Â
Dominguez Collado:Â
Qualifying Round 1 – defeated Gabby Gregg (Indiana) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
Qualifying Round 2 – defeated Danielle Forte (Cincinnati), 6-4, 6-4
Main Round of 64 – defeated Sarah Mildren (Tennessee) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
Round of 32 – defeated Gabrielle Guenther (Cincinnati) 7-6 (2), 6-4
Round of 16 – defeated Nehir Dogan (Purdue) – 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2
Mariia Dolzhenko has earned victories over Purdue, Kentucky and Tennessee to make it to the final eight.Â
Saturday against Norina Bak Szabo of Kentucky, after dropping the first frame 2-6, she rallied to win the next two, 6-3, 6-3.Â
Monday, taking on the region's top seed and No. 14 nationally ranked Valeria Ray of Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals, she won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to earn the Bisons' highest win over a ranked opponent in program history.Â
Â
SEMIFINALS BOUND! Congrats to Masha on advancing to the semifinals of the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals! She defeated Valeria Ray (Vanderbilt), the top seed in the region and the and. 14 national seed, of Vanderbilt, 7-5, 6-4! #IntoTheStorm ?? | #HornsUp ?? https://t.co/fIs4Wctnn0
— Lipscomb Women's Tennis (@LipscombWTennis) October 12, 2026
Dolzhenko:
Round of 64 – defeated Aleksandra Kyselova (Purdue), 6-1, 7-5
Round of 32 – defeated Norina Bak Szabo (Kentucky), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Round of 16 – defeated Alyson Shannon (Tennessee), 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals – defeated No. 14 Valeria Ray (Vanderbilt), 7-5, 6-4
Dolzhenko will face off with Zhu of Kentucky Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Winners of the semifinal rounds will play in the championship match on Wednesday. All remaining matches will take place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in nearby Mason, Ohio.Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Saturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03
Wednesday, September 23
Tuesday, September 08
