ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Cavalier first-year Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.) upset the No. 1 seed in the first round of The Dwight Davis/Merrill Lynch Championships on the USTA Pro Circuit Tuesday. Hardenbergh downed world No. 581 Allie Will 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

"Lindsey played extremely well," said Cavalier assistant coach Troy Porco. "I am proud of the way she played, competing at a very high level. I was particularly impressed with how she was able to regroup after dropping the second set and get off to a strong start to the third set. That was a key to her winning this match."

Hardenbergh, who is playing her first ever USTA Pro Circuit event, advanced to the main draw through qualifying. In the final round of qualifying, she defeated teammate Maggie Yahner (Las Vegas, Nev.). Sophomore Neela Vaez (Perrysburg, Ohio) was also in the qualifying draw.

The tournament runs through Sunday at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis' Forest Park.