Six Gators to compete for National Titles in California; Tennis split between two tournaments

Wednesday, November 1

Indian Wells, CA

All Day

Florida Gators

Oracle ITA National Fall Championships

Junior McClain Kessler will team up with freshman Duarte Vale as the pair looks to bring home a National Title

Six Gators to compete for National Titles in California; Tennis split between two tournaments

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 | Men's Tennis

Tournament Website Schedule of Events List of Qualifiers Dick Vitale Invitational Info Live Scoring Singles Draw - First Round Doubles Draw - First Round

By: Kelly Shipp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After a two-week hiatus, the University of Florida men's tennis team will be back on the courts Wednesday as they near the end of the fall portion of their schedule.

The Gators will be split between two tournaments to begin the month of November. Six Gators will head to Indian Wells, Calif. to compete in one of the falls most prestigious events, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Fall National Championships presented by Oracle. While two Gators will compete in the Dick Vitale Invitational in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

ITA FALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
One of the largest and most prestigious fall events in collegiate tennis is the ITA National Fall Championship presented by Oracle and is the only event to include all five divisions of collegiate tennis (Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and JUCO). The tournament is being held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. and will run Nov. 1-5.

The event is one of the most difficult to qualify for, as you have to meet certain performance standards in other ITA events during the fall season, or earn one of the 21 At-Large selections in singles, or 10 At-Large selections on doubles. A full list of selection criteria can be found HERE.

The Gators will have six student-athletes competing for national titles, two in singles and three doubles pairs.
Singles
No. 7 Alfredo Perez – Earned an At-Large Selection
No. 59 Johannes Ingildsen – Earned automatic selection with his ITA Men's All-American Championship consolation title
Doubles
No. 5 Perez / Ingildsen - Earned automatic selection with their ITA All-American Doubles Championship
McClain Kessler / Duarte Vale – Earned automatic selection as an ITA All-American Doubles semifinalist
Chase Perez-Blanco / Oliver Crawford – Earned an At-Large selection

The Florida Gators are going to be one of the most well-represented teams in the SEC at the championship event. The Gators are tied with the University of Georgia for the most doubles teams with three while being tied for third with Texas A&M for the most singles competitors.

When the national seeds were announced on Tuesday, it was revealed that both Perez (seeded ninth) and Ingildsen (seeded 12th) earned one of the 16 national seeds in singles. In doubles two of the three pairs earned one of the eight national seeds. The duo of Perez and Ingildsen, fresh off an ITA All-American Championship, earned the coveted top seed in the event while Kessler and Vale earned the seventh seed.

Coach Shelton on the ITA Fall National Championships
"It's a great opportunity for our guys to compete against some great competition. I'm looking for Alfredo to make some improvements in several areas after his last tournament in Tulsa where he didn't manage himself well. Also want to see Johannes build on his identity of being a tough out."

"The doubles has been a lot of fun this fall and I know our guys will go out there firing. We'll get a lot out of this tournament for sure and we'll use it as a training block as well."

Schedule of Events
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Singles Round of 64
Doubles Round of 32

Thursday, Nov. 2
Singles Round of 32
Consolation Singles Round of 32
Doubles Round of 16
Consolation Doubles Round of 16

Friday, Nov. 3
Singles Round of 16
Consolation Singles Round of 16
Singles Quarterfinals
Consolation Singles Quarterfinals
Doubles Quarterfinals
Consolation Doubles Quarterfinals

Saturday, Nov. 4
Singles Semifinals
Consolation Singles Semifinals
Doubles Semifinals
Consolation Doubles Semifinals

Sunday, Nov. 5
Singles Championship
Doubles Championship
Consolation Singles Championship
Consolation Doubles Championship

DICK VITALE INVITATIONAL
For the second straight season, the Gators will travel to Lakewood Ranch, Fla. to compete in the Dick Vitale Invitational on Nov. 3-5. Traveling to the event will be Jordan Belga and Andy Andrade.

This will be the eighth installment of The Dick Vitale Invitational that brings together some of the best NCAA Division I tennis talent from around the country. The invitational is a unique for both the student-athletes as well as the fans. The event is the only college event played on a clay court and is played at The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

A 2008 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Dick Vitale puts on the event and in a special interview with the Bradenton Herald back in November of 2015, said he wants to give all he can.

"I've been blessed over the years, so I want to give back all I can while I can," Vitale said. "Being able to raise over $55,000 for cancer research this past weekend is nothing short of amazing baby."

Schedule of Events
Friday, Nov. 3
Doubles Round of 16
Singles Round of 32
Singles Round 0f 16
Consolation Singles First Round
Doubles Quarterfinals

Saturday, Nov. 4
Doubles Semifinals
Singles Quarterfinals
Consolation Singles Quarterfinals
Singles Semifinals
Consolation Singles Semifinals

Sunday, Nov. 5
Singles Finals
Doubles Finals

Coach Perelman on the Dick Vitale Invitational
"The Gators are excited to be a part of the Dick Vitale Invitational. It is a first class event that attracts players from different areas of the country."

"Senior Jordan Belga and freshman Andy Andrade are our two singles entries and they will also play doubles together. It is our last weekend of the fall season and we all want to finish strong."

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