The University of Miami‘s hope to repeat as the USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Sectional Championships was realized on Sunday when the club tennis team captured the season-ending title with a victory over the University of Central Florida 24-20 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
“This weekend concluded the 2019-2020 Tennis on Campus season with the Florida Section Championships,” said USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Coordinator Desirae McLaughlin. “12 unique schools took part to make this our largest event to date. This was also the first time our Tennis on Campus Sectionals have been held at the USTA National Campus, something all of the players enjoyed.”
Gold Bracket Results
The UM-“A” team defeated the UCF-“A” squad 24-20 in an electrifying Gold Bracket final.
Gold Final: UM-“A” d. UCF-“A” 24-20
Women’s Doubles: Natalia Illuzzi/Ilana Gomez Diaz (UCF) d. Daniela Gonzalez/Juliana Gonzalez (UM) 6-4
Men’s Doubles: Rochan Ramesh/Niles Ghaffer (UM) d. Michael Mendez/Taylor Streda (UCF) 6-0
Women’s Singles: Ilana Gomez Diaz (UCF) d. Juliana Gonzalez (UM) 6-2
Men’s Singles: John Conor Moran (UM) d. Jonathan Dzung (UCF) 6-2
Mixed Doubles: Michael Mendez/Natalia Illuzzi (UCF) d. Daniela Gonzalez/Rochan Ramesh (UM) 6-5
The University of Miami club tennis team is now a back-to-back Tennis on Campus Sectional Championships winner. The team capped off a program-best season last year and captured its first-ever season-ending title with a win over the University of Florida, who at the time had won the season-ending championship four out of the last five years. The rivalry between the two teams picked back up at 2019-2020 season opener, with UF edging out UM 25-24 in the final of the annual Gatorbowl tournament in Gainesville. UM continued to have a slow start with a loss to UCF at the FAU Burrow Brawl before picking up its first win of the season over UF at the USF Bull Run in Tampa. UM went on to reach the Gold Bracket finals of the rain-soaked UNF Swoop the Nest and the UT Spartan Showdown before this weekend’s season-ending championship.
Both UM and UCF will advance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the USTA Tennis on Campus National Championships on April 2-4, 2020, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
“Teams were competing for the elusive two bids to the USTA Tennis on Campus National Championships that are awarded to the winner and finalist of the Gold Bracket,” said McLaughlin. “Our Gold Bracket winners, the University of Miami, and our finalists, the University of Central Florida, will both advance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the tournament held April 2-4, 2020, at the USTA National Campus.”
Silver Bracket Results
The UF-“C” team trounced the UM-“C” squad 25-20 to win the Silver Bracket final.
Gold Final: UF-“C” d. UM-“C” 25-20
Women’s Doubles: Caroline Herrero/Kara Evans (UF) d. Carly Hall/Runqi Hou (UM) 6-2
Men’s Doubles: Paulo Sicangco/Jason Myers (UF) d. Thomas Calvy/Alex Jung (UM) 6-4
Women’s Singles: Lana DePasquale (UF) d. Runqi Hou (UM) 6-5
Men’s Singles: Thomas Calvy (UM) d. Michael Zinn (UF) 6-1
Mixed Doubles: Luka Ilic/Kara Evans (UF) d. Alex Jung/Carly Hall (UM) 6-3
Bronze Bracket Results
The Florida State University-“B” squad captured the Bronze Bracket by topping the UF-“D” team 29-15 in the final.
Gold Final: FSU-“B” d. UF-“D” 29-15
Women’s Doubles: Nicole Cinquino/Brianna Parker (FSU) d. Mya Gardner/Gabby Herbert (UF) 6-5
Men’s Doubles: Christopher Riley/Nicholas Oppenhiemer (FSU) d. Bryce Holwell/Owen DeAngelis (UF) 6-2
Women’s Singles: Davina Sisouphanouvong (UF) d. Brianna Parker (FSU) 6-5
Men’s Singles: Andrew Gyotoku (FSU) d. Simon Mair (UF) 6-1
Mixed Doubles: Andrew Gytoku/Nicole Cinquino (FSU) d. Arnon Khantawang/Amy Xia (UF) 6-1
Copper Bracket Results
The FSU-“C” team was victorious in the Copper Bracket with 22-17 defeat over the Florida Atlantic University-“C” squad.
Gold Final: FSU-“C” d. FAU-“C” 22-17
Women’s Doubles: Eva Vasquez Peterson/Brenda Barnetche (FAU) d. Corrine Bresky/Valentina Clavijo (FSU) 6-4
Men’s Doubles: Braxton Bibb/Cole Najjar (FSU) d. Jake Ray/Blake Hastad (FAU) 6-1
Women’s Singles: Eva Vasquez Peterson (FAU) d. Rada Khan (FSU) 6-0
Men’s Singles: Reece Wild (FSU) d. Jake Ray (FAU) 6-3
Mixed Doubles: Cole Najjar/Corrine Bresky (FSU) d. Blake Hastad/Brenda Barnetche (FAU) 6-1
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32 teams from 12 schools competed at the event: UM, UCF, UF, University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, Rollins College, Florida Institute of Technology, and Florida Southern College.
For the first time ever, the Florida Campus Series ended in a points tie between the University of Miami and the University of Florida. The University of Tampa was named the 2019-2020 Club of the Year.
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USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ 2019-20 tournament schedule and results:
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 — UNF Swoop the Nest, Jacksonville (Final: UM-“A” vs. UF-“A” canceled)
Jan. 18 — UM Ibis Open, Key Biscayne (Final: UF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Feb. 1 — Hillsborough Community College, Tampa (Final: UM-“A” vs. UM-“B” rescheduled)
Feb. 15 — Delray Beach Open “Tennis on Campus” Challenge (Rained out)
Feb. 22 — USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Section Championships (Final: UM-“A” d. UCF-“A”)
USTA Florida ‘Tennis on Campus’ Year-end Championship Winners:
2020 — University of Miami d. University of Central Florida
2019 — University of Miami d. University of Florida
2018 — University of Florida d. University of Miami
2017 — University of Central Florida d. University of Florida-“B”
2016 — University of Florida d. University of Miami
2015 — University of Florida d. University of Florida-“B”
2014 — University of Florida d. University of South Florida
2013 — University of Florida d. University of Central Florida
2012 — University of Central Florida d. University of Florida
2011 — University of Florida d. University of Central Florida
2010 — University of Florida d. University of Central Florida
2009 — University of Florida d. University of Central Florida
2008 — University of Florida d. Daytona State College
2007 — University of Florida d. University of Central Florida
2006 — University of Central Florida d. University of Florida
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.
