Women's Tennis Finish 13th at Nationals

Women's Tennis Finish 13th at Nationals

The women's nationals lasted from Sunday to the following Thursday and was at the Jim Reffkin Tennis Center. The tournament hosted 32 teams from all across the United States and five teams from the state of Texas.

Sunday was the first day of competition and the lady lions won three of the four singles matches played. Winning for the lady lions were; Ana Cris Orozco at flight 1; Agustina Grimolizzi at flight 2; Ann-Kathryn Zilles at line 3 respectfully. In doubles the team of Orozco / Zilles won their match by the score of 6-1;6-1. 

Monday

 Orozco and Grimolizzi both had to play against #1 seeds from Tyler Junior College (the number 1 team in the nation going in to the tournament). Both came up on the losing end but did manage to win 2 points each for their team totals. In other singles matches on Monday saw Ann-Kathryn Zilles continue her winning ways with victories over Jones County of Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast by the scores of 6-1;6-1 and 6-1;6-3 respectfully. Nikita Hill also got on the winning way by defeating Lewis & Clark CC from Illinois 8-0. Line 5 was Essence Green and after receiving a bye on Sunday played and lost to ABAC school from Georgia 6-0;6-2. Also receiving a bye on Sunday was Kelsea Baksh and then lost her next round match to Collin County in three hard fought sets 6-4;3-6; 6-0. Doubles was up next and Green/Grimolizzi then won their match over Moraine Valley from Illinois 8-1. Orozco/Zilles would then play and lose to the #7 seeded team from Seminole State College 6-1;6-3. Finally at line 3 doubles the team of Hill/Galvez would lose to Collin County 6-4;6-1.

Tuesday

  Line 3 singles Ann-Kathryn Zilles would lose in the quarter finals to the #2 seed from Seminole State College 6-4; 6-0. Ann had a very good tournament said coach Waddell after taking a spill on Saturday in practice and injuring her left knee. We got the trainers to help her each day and also put her in a knee brace through-out the tournament. Coach Waddell would also go on and say that Ann never complained one time through three days of competition with the injury. So proud of her here and through-out the whole year. Up next was line 4 Nikita Hill and she won her match over Mississippi Gulf Coach 8-1 and then had to play another match and she won this one as well 8-1 over Waubonsee CC by the same score of 8-1. Next up would be line 5 singles Essence Green and she played and won her match over Pima CC Arizona 8-3. She also played another match and won it as well 8-1 over Paradise Valley Arizona 8-1. Line 6 would be Kelsea Baksh playing again and won this time 8-4 over Jones County of Mississippi. Kelsea would play again on Tuesday and she won this time over Pima Arizona 8-1. Doubles on Tuesday saw Green/Grimolizzi lose to Mississippi Gulf Coast 8-3. Also line 3 doubles team would play and win against Jones County by the score of 8-3.

Wednesday

  the Lady Lion's would have three players in the consolation finals. Nikita Hill, Essence Green, and Kelsea Baksh. Hill would lose to St. Petersburg Florida 8-3 in her finals. Kelsea Baksh would also lose her finals match to Seward County College 8-1. Finally up was line 5 Essence Green and she would go on and win her consolation final's match 8-4 over Meridian College. Finally in doubles the team of Hill/Galvez would win their first match of the day 8-3 over Jones County before then losing to ABAC 8-1 in the last match of the tournament for the lady lions. 

 

When the team returned to Gainesville, two team members graduated after spending 3 semesters at North Central Texas College. Three members tabbed Dean's list awards, and two made the President's list. The two graduating members will be moving on to their 4 year colleges, and 5 will be returning for the fall semester.