The University of Central Florida club tennis team defended its home turf and captured its third USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” title over the weekend at the UCF Knightro Cup, held at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.
“This event was our biggest of the 2019-2020 season with 32 teams,” said USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Coordinator Desirae McLaughlin. “Even though there was some chilly weather, we still had great play on the courts.”
The UCF-“A” team defeated the University of Florida-“A” squad 28-22 in the Gold Bracket final. It’s the second straight title win for UCF of the 2019-2020 season and third overall after claiming the crown at the FGCU Dirty Bird Classic in Fort Myers earlier this month and September’s FAU Burrow Brawl in Boca Raton. The win pulls UCF ahead of UF, which also has two titles thus far this season.
Gold Final: UCF-“A” d. UF-“A” 28-22
Women’s Doubles: Natalia Illuzzi/Nila Illuzzi (UCF) d. Tess Flemma/Aslesha Lissanevitch (UF) 6-5
Men’s Doubles: Coley Hungate/James Bratt (UF) d. Michael Mendez/Jonathan Borsky (UCF) 6-5
Women’s Singles: Isabella Herrero (UF) d. Ilana Gomez-Dias (UCF) 6-5
Men’s Singles: Taylor Streda (UCF) d. David Burns (UF) 6-1
Mixed Doubles: Michael Mendez/Natalia Illuzzi (UCF) d. Coley Hungate/Isabella Herrero (UF) 6-4
The University of Tampa-“A” team won the Silver Bracket after edging the Florida State University-“B” team in the final. The University of South Florida-“C” team won the Bronze Bracket by topping the University of North Florida-“A” squad and the FSU-“C” squad defeated the UCF-“E” team to capture the Copper Bracket.
Thirty-two teams from ten schools competed at the event: UCF, UF, University of Miami, USF, UNF, UT, FSU, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Beacon College.
The next event on the 2019-20 USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” schedule will be the UNF Swoop the Nest in Jacksonville on Jan. 11.
USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” 2019-20 tournament schedule:
Sept. 14 — UF Gatorbowl, Gainesville (Final: UF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Sept. 28 — FAU Burrow Brawl, Boca Raton (Final: UCF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Oct. 5 — FSU Clash at the Capital, Tallahassee (Final: UF-“A” d. FSU-“A”)
Oct. 26 — USF Bull Run, Tampa (Final: UM-“A” d. UF-“A”)
Nov. 2 — FGCU Dirty Bird Classic, Ft. Myers (Final: UCF-“A” d. UT-“A”)
Nov. 16 — UCF Knightro Cup, Orlando (Final: UCF-“A” d. UF-“A”)
Jan. 11 — University of North Florida, Jacksonville
Jan. 18 — UM Ibis Open, Key Biscayne
Feb. 1 — Hillsborough Community College, Tampa
Feb. 15 — Delray Beach Open “Tennis on Campus” Challenge
Feb. 22 — 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.
For more information on the USTA Florida Tennis on Campus series, to see team results or to start a team, go to www.ustaflorida.com/TOC, or contact Desirae McLaughlin at toc@ustaflorida.com.
