NEW HAVEN, Conn. - First-year player Ellen Katzer won two matches Thursday to play her way into the main draw of the ITA Division I New England Regional.

The day began with 64 players from around the region competing for just 16 available spots in the main draw of the women's open championship. One of three players playing Thursday, Katzer breezed past Fairfield's Yana Razina 6-1, 6-1 in the morning.

In the afternoon, she again won in straight sets. Katzer knocked off Safina Khabibrakhmanova from UMass by the score of 6-3, 6-4. That win propelled Katzer into the main draw, where she will face Cornell's Victoria Zhao at 10 a.m Friday.

Katzer joined teammate Iben Mol in the 64-player main draw, which begins play Friday morning. Mol was one of 48 players who earned automatic spots in the main draw. Mol will take on Fairfield's Regina Herrera at 10 a.m.

Third-year player Grace Darcy picked up an opening round win for the Rams. She outlasted Stonehill's Arya Chabria in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the morning. However, Brown's Anne Yang eliminated Darcy in the second round, 6-0, 6-3.

Second-year player Kajsa Helgesen fell in the opening round. Also going against an opponent from Brown, Helgesen lost to Isabella Hu, 7-5, 6-1.

In addition to Mol and Katzer in the main singles draw, Rhode Island has two teams in the 64-team doubles draw. Mol and Helgesen will battle Sacred Heart's team of Olivia Zuba and Ola Irla-Bartyzel at 2 p.m. Darcy and Anastasia Pettersson will face Flora Eidson and Adelaide Games from Providence College at 3 p.m.

ITA Division I New England Regional - Day 1
Rhode Island results
Singles - Qualifying Bracket
Round 1
Grace Darcy (URI) def. Arya Chabria (Stonehill); 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Ellen Katzer (URI) def. Yana Razina (Fairfield); 6-1, 6-1
Isabella Hu (Brown) def. Kajsa Helgesen (URI); 7-5, 6-1

Round 2
Ellen Katzer (URI) def. Safina Khabibrakhmanova (UMass); 6-3, 6-4
Anne Yang (Brown) def. Grace Darcy (URI); 6-0, 6-3

Friday Schedule
Doubles - Open Draw
First Round
Kajsa Helgesen/Iben Mol (URI) vs. Olivia Zuba/Irla Bartyzel (Sacred Heart), 2 p.m.
Grace Darcy/Anastasia Pettersson (URI) vs. Flora Eidson/Adelaide Games (PC), 3 p.m.

Singles - Main Draw
First Round
Iben Mol (URI) vs. Regina Herrara (Fairfield), 10 a.m.
Ellen Katzer (URI) vs. Victoria Zhao (Cornell), 10 a.m.