Marianna Petrei didn't realize she was playing the No. 11 women's tennis player in the country.
 
"When they told me in the end, I was like, 'Oh woah,'" she said. "In the past, I used to check everything, but this time I was like, 'I'm not going to check, I'm just going to play my game and see how I do.'"
 
Petrei played in the Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships last week, upsetting multiple highly-ranked players in a run to the consolation semifinals.
 
Petrei won three matches just to qualify for the main draw of 32 before she dropped into the consolation bracket. Her win over No. 11 Estela Perez Somarriba of Miami (FL), pushed her into a national spotlight.
 
The Idaho junior's run came to an end against Oklahoma's Lily Miyazaki, who is ranked No. 19. Petrei took the first set, and Miyazaki edged out Petrei in the second and third sets.
 
Petrei said she focused on her game instead of her opponents.
 
"It was really tough," she said. "I didn't have any expectations, so that helped. I could hit the ball and play my game without expecting anything."
 
Petrei is one of the top players to come through the Idaho program in recent seasons. The first set of Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings listed the Udine, Italy native, at No. 71 in singles.
 
She is the first Vandal since 2010 to crack the list.
 
Last season, she went 10-0 in conference singles—her second straight undefeated conference season. She was also the unanimous MVP choice last season, earning the honor in back-to-back seasons.
 
Idaho tennis coach Babar Akbar believes Petrei played her best tennis ever last weekend.
 
"We have the type of kids who can perform at that level, I think it's a matter of belief," she said. "She went out there and she showed she can compete with the best in the country and it's just a matter of taking that further."
 
Akbar said Petrei's experience will help the rest of the team.
 
"She did not get intimidated by all these big names," he said. "These tournaments are more individual. When you have someone who goes out and does so well, it gives the rest of the team a benchmark to work towards. If Marianna can do it, the other girls are thinking, 'We should try to do it.'"
 
Akbar said Petrei's performance helps show Idaho belongs in the college tennis world.
 
The Idaho women's tennis team plays in the ITA Regionals Tournament starting Oct. 11 in Salt Lake City.
 
Petrei said this past weekend taught her she can work even harder.

"I can get better results," she said. "I gained some confidence. I know what I can do and what I cannot. I'm going to just try to push myself to do better."