CLAREMONT-- UC Santa Cruz opened the 2023-24 season with eight Banana Slugs taking part in the ITA West Regional championships.

Three doubles pairs had matches on Friday over two Flights going 1-3. Julia Chiaradia Azzi and Melody Ghaffari won their first match 8-1 over a duo from Whittier College before dropping the semifinal later Friday morning 8-3 to Redlands's Sherwood/Rojas.

Returners Sara Beckman, Meghana Damojipurapu, Tanner Rowland, and Natalie Sprenger all competed in the top flight of the Women's Open Singles tournament. Chloe Wu had her college debut with an exciting match in Flight Two, before dropping the encounter to Kielty of Redlands 3-6, 6-2, 11-13. Azzi and Sweden Van Houten opened against opposition from Whittier in Flight Three. Azzi advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Ghaffari also made the Flight's quarterfinals after winning her first college match 7-6, 5-7, 10-6 over Caltech's Ritali Jain.

The tournament continues Saturday morning.