Harding Tennis Trio Set for ITA Cup - UPDATED (10/12)

(10/12) Harding's Cas de Ruiter fell in three sets to Takeshi Taco of Valdosta State in the national semifinal. It tied the farthest a Harding tennis player ever made it at the ITA Cup.

Harding's doubles team of de Ruiter and Adrian Solorzano lost in straight sets to Washburn in the consolation semifinal.

Harding's Alexia Valdez Zarate won her second match of the ITA Cup, defeating Southern Arkansas' Amelie Gindl in three sets.

(10/11) After Thursday and Friday's matches, Harding senior Cas de Ruiter has advanced to the semifinals of men's singles, guaranteeing a top four spot at the national championship. De Ruiter defeated Cedric Drenth of Wayne State and Central Region champion Tim Hammes of Washburn both in three-set matches. He will take on Valdosta State's Takeshi Taco in the semifinals on Saturday at 8 a.m.

De Ruiter and Adrian Solorzano lost their first match to Wayne State but bounced back with a three-set victory over UT Tyler. The duo plays Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against a team from Washburn.

Alexia Zarate Valdez lost her first singles match but responded with a three-set victory over Sophie Rachor of Concordia-Irvine in her second match. She plays again Saturday at 8 a.m. against Southern Arkansas' Amelie Gindl.

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. — 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.

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Players Mentioned

Teodor Zlatar: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Cas de Ruiter: 6' 8"; Senior

Alexia Zarate Valdez: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Adrian Solorzano: 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Teodor Zlatar
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Cas de Ruiter
: 6' 8"; Senior

Alexia Zarate Valdez
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Adrian Solorzano
: 6' 0"; Junior