Florida Gators
USTA/ITA Southeast Regionals Day 4
Gators Take All at Regionals
Monday, October 20, 2014 | Women's Tennis
It was a victorious day for the Orange & Blue as Gator freshman, No. 5 seed Josie Kuhlman captured the main draw singles title and No. 6 seed Gator duo Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan earned the doubles crown at the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex Monday.
It was an all-Gator affair in both the singles and doubles finale. Kuhlman defeated junior Gator Brianna Morgan in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to secure her first collegiate singles title. She moved to 13-2 in fall season singles. Austin and Keegan went 5-0 as a tandem in the Regionals tournament and topped the No. 4-seeded rookie pair, Kuhlman and Peggy Porter in the final match. The freshman doubles duo of Kuhlman and Porter is 9-2 this fall.
“I was so proud to see not only the quality of tennis, but perhaps even more importantly, the way we competed with one another,” said head coach Roland Thornqvist. “All five played with such class and respect for each other. Remember, we do this every day in practice, so these girls are used to playing against the best every day.”
Kuhlman is the most recent Gator to win the Regionals single title since Gator alum Olivia Janowicz topped classmate Alexandra Cercone as a freshman in 2010. That was the last time Florida captured the Regionals doubles title as well, as four Orange & Blue alumnae duked it out on the doubles court; Allie Will and Sofie Oyen defeated Joanna Mather and Caroline Hitimana. Here's the full story on the last Gators Southeast Regionals sweep.
Kuhlman earned the region's qualifying spot in the 2014 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, which will take place November 6 through November 9 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Austin and Keegan will compete in the doubles leg of the event. Austin earned an automatic berth into the singles draw for her run to the main draw singles semifinals at the 2014 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships earlier this month. The National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship is the second of the individual national championships played during the collegiate season, with the third and final one being the NCAA championships in May.
Complete Singles and Doubles Draws Available
Southeast Regionals Roundup
USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships
Day Four Results – UF Only
SINGLES
Final
Josie Kuhlman [5] (UF) def. No. 14 Brianna Morgan [3] (UF), 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES
Final
Kourtney Keegan/Brooke Austin [6] (UF) def. Peggy Porter/Josie Kuhlman [4] (UF), 6-3, 6-3
NEXT UP:
The Gators will enjoy a three-week break from fall competition before they travel north to Flushing, New York, for the 2014 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center November 6 to November 9.
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