PALM DESERT/INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Anna Bright advanced to the consolation singles round of 16 on Thursday at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, and she is the only Golden Bear still standing after two days of the inaugural tournament.
 
The California freshman upset North Carolina's 22nd-ranked Jessie Aney, 6-2, 6-1, in Thursday's round of 32 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Bright will play Wesleyan's Eudice Chong in Friday's round of 16.
 
"Anna got a great win over Jessie Aney," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "She rebounded well from her match yesterday, so that was good to see. I'm excited to see where Anna can get to in the consolation draw."
 
Olivia Hauger, the 75th-ranked Cal junior playing in the singles main draw round of 32, lost to another Tar Heel in fifth-seeded Alle Sanford, 6-2, 6-1. Cal senior Karla Popovic – seeded third and ranked fifth – defaulted in her consolation round of 32 against Virginia Tech's 56th-ranked Natalie Novotna.
 
"I was pleased to see Olivia advance to the round of 32 in the main draw, and I know she'll use this experience to keep building for future national events," Augustus said. "I do think her ranking should rise significantly after her putting together a pretty strong fall record (10-4)."
 
In consolation doubles, the 11th-ranked Popovic and Hauger lost, 6-3, 6-1, to Georgia's Katarina Jokic and Mariana Gould at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
 
"In doubles the first set was quite tight, with a lot of close games," Augustus said. "They did a lot of things well. We have to work on our first-set percentage. Our volleys are definitely improving and so is our transition game. The next time we see that Georgia doubles team could be at national team indoors, and hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of our first serves a little bit better."
 
Friday will feature Bright's round of 16 match at fall nationals as well as Bears Maria Smith, Audrey Mayer, Vivian Glozman and Jasie Dunk competing on the first day of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, Arizona.
 
Oracle ITA National Fall Championships
Nov. 2, 2017, in Palm Desert, Calif.
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
 
Main Draw Singles
 
Round of 32
 [5] Alle Sanford (UNC) def. No. 75 Olivia Hauger (Cal), 6-2, 6-1
 
Consolation Singles
 
Round of 32
Anna Bright (Cal) def. No. 22 Jessie Aney (UNC), 6-2, 6-1
No. 56 Natalie Novotna (Virginia Tech) vs. [3] No. 5 Karla Popovic (Cal), default
 
Oracle ITA National Fall Championships
Nov. 2, 2017, in Indian Wells, Calif.
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
 
Main Draw Doubles
 
Round of 32
Katarina Jokic/Mariana Gould (Georgia) def. No. 11 Olivia Hauger/Karla Popovic (Cal), 6-3, 6-1