EDMOND, Okla. - Northwest Missouri State University junior Franco Oliva took second-place honors in singles at the 2021 ITA Central Region Championships on Sunday.

Oliva, who won the 2018 ITA Central Region singles title, came up one victory short of claiming his second region championship. Oliva picked up a 6-3, 7-5 win over Ouachita Baptist's Francisco Oliveira in the semifinal to begin his Sunday action.

In the final, Oliva matched up with Marko Nikoliuk (Southern Arkansas). Nikoliuk reached the final by knocking off Oliva's teammate No. 1 seed Andrea Zamurri in the other semifinal - 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Nikoliuk captured the crown with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Oliva.

On the women's side, Northwest's Angela per Moreno was topped by Missouri Western's Claudia Iglesias Iglesias in the Open B semifinal.

SUNDAY'S SINGLES RESULTS
Men's Open A Singles
No. 1 Andrea Zamurri
L, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 vs. Marko Nikoliuk (Southern Arkansas)

Franco Oliva
W, 6-3, 7-5 vs. Francisco Oliveira (Ouachita Baptist)
L, 6-3, 7-5 vs. Marko Nikoliuk (Southern Arkansas)

Women's Open B Draw
Angela per Moreno
L, 6-2, 6-2 vs. Claudia Iglesias Iglesias (Missouri Western)