UCF Upsets UF for USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Club Title at Boca Raton

The champions from the University of Central Florida

The vaunted University of Florida club tennis team continues to face unprecedented competition during the 2016-17 USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ season.

UF, which has won four of the last five, and nine of the last 10 season-ending USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Sectional Championships, fell in last Sunday’s final of the 1st Annual Owl Open, hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. The University of Central Florida raised the trophy after ousting UF 22-20 in the championship match.

“The event was held at both the FAU courts and a local facility, and the weather was beautiful,” said USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Coordinator Desirae McLaughlin.

Championship Match Results:

Women’s Doubles: Lissa Galguera/Linda Antanova (UCF) d. Isabella Herrero/Anna Rachman 6-5
Men’s Doubles: Alex Peckham/Andrew Makerov (UF) d. Miguel Carvajal/Geo Wu 6-0
Women’s Singles: Chelsea Matie (UCF) d. Kylie Randall 6-3
Men’s Singles: Aidan O’Brien (UCF) d. Andrew Makerov 6-5
Mixed Doubles: Chelsea Matie/Miguel Carvajal (UCF) d. Alex Peckham/Anna Rachman 4-1

The Gold Bracket runners-up from the University of Florida

In the semifinals UCF-“A” defeated the University of South Florida-“A” squad, and UF-“A” beat the University of Miami-“A” team.

The UF-“C” team won the Silver Bracket, in the final defeating the University of Miami-“C” squad.

It was UCF’s third title of the season, trailing only UF’s four, following wins at the UM Ibis Open in Coral Gables, and the Knightro Cup in Orlando. Teams participating were from UF, UCF, FAU, Florida State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, USF, UM, and the University of Wisconsin.

Next up on Florida’s ‘Tennis on Campus’ schedule is the Delray Beach Open ‘Tennis On Campus’ Challenge in Delray Beach on Feb. 17.

2016-17 Florida Schedule and Results:

Sept. 17-18 — UM Ibis Open, Coral Gables (FINAL: UCF-A d. UM-A)
Sept. 24-25 — UF Gatorbowl, Gainesville (FINAL: UF-A d. UF-B)
Oct. 22-23 — USF Bull Run, Tampa (FINAL: UF-A d. UM-A)
Nov. 5-6 — Knightro Cup, Orlando (FINAL: UCF-A d. UM-A)
Nov. 19-20 — FGCU Dirty Bird Classic, Ft. Myers (FINAL: UF-A d. UCF-A)
Jan. 28-29 — FAMU/FSU Battle in the Capital, Tallahassee (FINAL: UF-A d. FSU-A)
Feb. 4-5 — FAU Tournament, Boca Raton (FINAL: UCF-A d. UF-A)
Feb. 17 — Delray Beach Open ‘Tennis On Campus’ Challenge, Delray Beach
Feb. 25-26 — USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Section Championships

About USTA Tennis On Campus
The USTA’s Tennis On Campus program is designed to provide college students with opportunities for team camaraderie, social networking, and rivaled competition through tennis without the rigors of a NCAA varsity program. Tennis on Campus offers fun co-ed team-based play (using the World TeamTennis scoring format), regional and national championship competition, and helps students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years. Currently the program is offered on more than 500 college campuses. The USTA Tennis on Campus team format features men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with a minimum of two men and two women per team.

Florida’s Tennis on Campus series in 2016-17 is eight regular-season tournaments leading to the year-end championships, determining which teams will advance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the USTA Tennis on Campus National Championships. Any college club team can participate with a minimum four players, two male and two female.

For more information on the USTA Florida Tennis on Campus series or to start a team at your school go to www.ustaflorida.com/TOC, or contact Desirae McLaughlin at toc@ustaflorida.com.