Hempstead, NY – Hofstra completed a successful first day at the Hofstra Pride Invitational, sending four singles players and a doubles team to the semifinals of their respective draws. Michal Kaplan, Alejandra Ruffini, Disha Yellayi and Meheq Khokhar are all singles semifinalists, while Sarah Catherine Herndon and Yellayi will play in a doubles semifinal.

In "A" singles, Kaplan won her first round match over FDU's Patricia Eftenoui (6-4, 6-4). The Pride junior then had to rally in her quarterfinal match against LIU Brooklyn's Jessica Brzozowska. Kaplan dropped the first set, 4-6, before winning the next two, 6-4 and 12-10. Kaplan will face Carina Ma of Fordham in Saturday's semifinals.

Ruffini cruised to the "B" singles semifinals with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Marist's Sam Galu in the opening round and a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Liza Rachenko of FDU in the quarterfinals. The freshman will meet LIU Brooklyn's Clemence Krug in the semifinals.

Yellayi and Khokhar advanced to the semifinals of the "C" singles bracket. Yellayi received a first round bye and then posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Wagner's Samantha Hodges in the quarterfinals. Yellayi will take on Marist's Amy Galloway Saturday. Khokhar picked up a pair of wins Friday, downing Melanie Post of Wagner (7-6 [10-8], 6-4) in the opening round before dispatching Marist's Lizzie Brozovich in the quarterfinals, 7-5 and 6-1. Khokhar faces Fordham's Whitney Weisberg in the other semifinal.

The doubles team of Herndon and Yellayi reached the "B" doubles semifinals with a pair of wins. The pair opened up play with a 6-2 win over Post and Carolyn Gibson of Wagner. Herndon and Yellayi followed that with a 7-6 (10-8) victory over Patricia Eftenoui and Marta Rusczyzynska in the quarterfinals. They will face LIU Brooklyn's Jennifer Gogova and Malin Leysen in the semifinals on Saturday.

Saturday's action will get underway at 10 a.m. at the Hofstra Outdoor Tennis Center.

Notes:
-Herndon and Jasmine King each went 1-1 in "B" singles.
-King and Ronia Dolabany were 1-1 in the "B" doubles draw.
-Kaplan and Ruffini posted a 1-1 mark in "A" doubles.