FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Opening round action began on Friday at the 2026 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Southeast Regional Championships and Christopher Newport had a strong first day appearance in singles action. Four CNU players picked off their opening round opponents and advance to the second round on Saturday. 

In the championship draw, Anna Bong, Kendal Chang, Kylie Schaefer, and Emma Carver each earned wins for the Captains in singles play. Only Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon feature more players still competing in the championshipd draw. Doubles competition will start on Saturday with four CNU tandems registered in the championship draw. 

Kendal Chang, seeded #9, cruised to an opening round win against Zoe Vliegen from Batten University (6-1, 6-0) and will face off against Catholic's Carmen Valentino. 

Anna Bong defeated Mary Washington's Sophia Broomall (6-2, 6-2) and advances to face #9-seed Laila Nguyen from Johns Hopkins on Saturday at Noon. Kylie Schaefer, seeded #5, also had no trouble with her first round opponent from Lynchburg, Giovana Gaboardi (6-1, 6-2). Rounding out the CNU victors was Emma Carver, disposing of Sofia Sperandei (6-2, 6-1) from Washington College of Maryland. Carver has a challenge ahead of her as she's poised to take on #2-seed Shelly Zinchenko in the second round on Saturday while Schaefer will face a newcomer to Mary Washington in freshman Brianna Stewart. 

Moly Miller suffered a loss to Haverford's Isabella Paradisi (6-2, 6-0) and will play in the consolation bracket this weekend. Lindsey Bergelin also will play back through the consolation rounds after suffering a first round setback to #5-seed Isabelle Emmanuel (6-0, 6-2) from Johns Hopkins. 

The matches in the Blue 1 and Blue 2 draws including Samantha Robertson and Nathalie Lanne will begin play on Saturday.