GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Behind a strong effort from Vanessa Akuaku in singles play, the sophomore from Ghana advanced to the ITA-NAIA Southeast Regional Championship Round of 32 -- while Akuaku and her doubles partner, Antonia Ilea, also advanced to the Round of 32 in doubles following the first day of action at the Georgetown, Ky.-based event Thursday afternoon and evening.

Akuaku, who has impressed throughout the early portion of her Shawnee State women's tennis career, defeated Johnson (Tenn.)'s Caroline Rhoton in commanding fashion (6-1, 6-0) to earn herself a Round of 32 matchup against Georgetown's Lindsey Rikkerink.

In doubles play, Akuaku and Ilea advanced to the Round of 32 as their scheduled opponent in doubles competition, Bethel (Tenn.)'s Camila Barragan and Sofia Canto Hurtado, withdrew due to injury. Akuaku and Ilea will play Union Commonwealth (Ky.)'s Aspasia Katsouda and Anastasiia Iakovlieva in the Round of 32 as the duo attempt to advance further.

Brooklyn Foose and Miranda Johnson continued what was a strong effort for the Shawnee State women's program -- as Foose and Johnson dropped a tight 6-4 decision to Georgetown (Ky.)'s Abigail Moss and Anna White in the Round of 64 in doubles action.

Pivoting back to singles competition, Ilea also showcased strength, falling to Johnson (Tenn.)'s Berkley Clark but taking Clark to the limit in the first set in a strong 6-4 showing before dropping the second set, 6-0 in the Round of 64. Johnson and Foose also were eliminated in the Round of 64 in singles competition.

Full results are as follows:

2024 ITA-NAIA Southeast Regional Championships -- Day 1

Singles

Vanessa Akuaku (Shawnee State) def. Caroline Rhoton (Johnson) 6-1, 6-0

Antonia Ilea (Shawnee State) lost to Berkley Clark (Johnson) 4-6, 0-6

Brooklyn Foose (Shawnee State) lost to Anastasiia Ivanchenko (Lindsey Wilson) 0-6, 0-6

Miranda Johnson (Shawnee State) lost to Yazmin Barrios (Pikeville) 0-6, 0-6

Doubles

Vanessa Akuaku/Antonia Ilea (Shawnee State) def. Camila Barragan/Sofia Canto Hurtado (Bethel), advance on injury withdrawal and subsquent forfeit by Bethel

Brooklyn Foose/Miranda Johnson (Shawnee State) lost to Abigail Moss/Anna White (Georgetown), 4-6

Additional

Updates will continue on the women's side of the 2024 ITA-NAIA Southeast Regional Championship Bracket as events are officially recorded.