Karnaukhova (25-2 overall) took control of the match early with a 6-2 win in the first set. In the set, she broke a 1-1 tie by winning the next four games. Trailing 5-1, Bergman (12-12) won the next game before Karnaukhova closed out the set with a win in the eighth game.

The momentum in the match swung in the second game where Bergman responded with her own 6-2 win. The senior, who was competing in her fourth-straight NCAA Championship, staked a 1-0 lead before Karnaukhova evened the set at 1-1. From that point, Bergman won five of the next six games to force a decisive third set.

Karnaukhova, who was playing just her fifth three-set match of the season, jumped ahead 4-2 in the third before Bergman tied the set at 5-5. Karnaukhova closed the set by winning the final two games.

The win marks the second-straight season that Karnaukhova has advanced out of the first round. Last year, she reached the Sweet 16 and received All-America honors. The Krasnodar, Russia native will return to the court on Tuesday, May 24, where she will face the winner of the Amanda Fish (Vanderbilt)-Kristi Miller (Georgia Tech) match.

---30---