Pair of Islanders Advance to Finals

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Marina Vicens Miquel is on to the Contender CrossFit Islander Open Final while the Kellerman twins are set for the men's doubles title match after day two on the courts for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Vicens Miquel made her way to women's singles final with two grueling victories Saturday. The junior's quarterfinal matchup required a comeback as Vicens Miquel knocked off Matea Zemunik of UIW. Zemunik, the No. 1 player for UIW a season ago, claimed the first set 6-2 before the Islander began the long grind back. Vicens Miquel rallied for a 7-5 second set victory and momentum. In the third, it was all Vicens Miquel as she rolled 10-2 in the tiebreak set.
 
In the semifinals, Vicens Miquel started rolling early en route to a 6-1, 6-4 victory. With growing confidence, the Islander toppled UTSA's Denis Ibrahimovic for a spot in Sunday's final. Vicens Miquel will face Florian Picaut of Louisiana in the final.
 
Meanwhile, Francois and Okkie Kellerman were making their march to the men's doubles final. The twins started their day with a commanding show of force in the quarterfinals, storming past Lawrence and Boyogueno of Prairie View 6-0. Their domination comtinued in the semis as the Kellermans rolled past Bugiga and Carillo of UTSA in 6-3 fashion. Sunday's final will pit the twins against Kaufman and Johnstone from UTRGV.
 
Along with the two in the finals, William Mottet will have a chance to reach the men's singles final as he won a pair of matches on Saturday to reach the semifinals. Mottet opened his second day at the Contender CrossFit Islander Open with a come from behind victory in the round of 16. Mottet rebounded after a 5-7 opening set to defeat Francisco Bendana with a 6-3 second and 10-8 tiebreak third set.
 
Mottet's ride to semis included a dominant quarterfinal performance in the afternoon. The sophomore cruised past Nico Mayr of Lamar in 6-2, 6-3 fashion to reach the semifinal set for Sunday morning.
 
ISLANDER RESULTS
 
Louise Trigona made a run into the women's singles semfinals before being upended by Florian Picaut. Trigona was rolling 6-1, 3-0 over Ivana Ilic when the Roadrunner retired. Trigona then fell to Picaut 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinal.
 
Francois Kellerman looked poised for a run into the men's singles semifinals to join Mottet, but was upended in the quarterfinals. Kellerman rolled 6-4, 6-0 in his first match of the day and claimed a 6-1 first set in the quarterfinal, but was felled 6-1, 1-6, 10-4 by Koby Jansen.
 
Carlos Pedrosa also dropped a three-setter in the main draw, falling to UIW's Evans 6-3, 3-6, 7-10.
 
SUNDAY FINALS
 
The Islanders will have at least a pair of representatives in the finals on Sunday with Vicens Miquel and the Kellerman twins. Mottet will also have an opportunity to reach the finals as well when matches continue Sunday morning.
 
MOORE'S MIND
 
On lessons from day two…
"Today sent a very good message about grit, hard work and determination. To see Marina, who played six last year and seven the year before work so hard and put everything we've asked of her into action was amazing. She has developed and pushed through to another level and has reached the final of an ITA tournament. We're very proud of her and the team as well for the values they choose to embrace."
 
On players showing improvement…
"I was very proud of William also. He was a freshman last year and improved so much over the summer. Louise also improved so much over the summer. She really took areas of her game to a new level and fought very hard, falling to a great quality opponent. I'm most proud of our team and their attitude, work ethic and being a true team."
 
On the weekend…
"This is such a great event for Corpus Christi. We can't thank Contender CrossFit and David Harris enough. We can't thank Hester's Café enough. This has just been a fantastic event for our city and our university."