SCF Tennis Finalizes Season

Bradenton, Fla - The SCF tennis team has set aside the 2021 season and will look on to the 2022 season and hopefully another trip to nationals.

Last Time Out:

The Manatees come off finishing last season 1-8 overall with a 0-6 record in the Region 8 Standings. They would compete in the FCSAA State Tournament in San Lando where they would secure an automatic bid to qualify for the NJCAA National Tennis Tournament in Mesa, Arizona. They would finish in the Top 10 (T-7th) from there.

The Manatees are lead by head coach Chloe Murphy, who enters her fifth year as head coach for the team. She is joined by assistant coach Erin Bryce.

Key Losses, New Gains, Big Returns:

The Manatees will be without Alexis Booker, Mackenzie Vraspir, Britain 'Brie' Botsford, Allie Beck and Karla Menendez. Botsford (Savannah College of Art and Design (NAIA)) and Menendez (University of West Georgia (NCAA DII)) have decided to continue playing tennis collegiately.

Murphy was able to land five newcomers to join the team: Jessica Bustamante, Kathrin Didovich, Carlota 'Carly' Gascon Martinez, Jenna Gusto and Natalia Vuckovic. Gascon Martinez joined the Manatees as a sophomore transfer from Eastern Florida State.

All four returners for the Manatees are coming back: Kia Carvalho-Landell, Sarah Forsyth, Luna Mouton and Lou De Frietas Bonet.

Carvalho-Landell has been one of the key benefactors of the team after becoming runner-up in the state tournament at #5 singles and even went as far as semifinals of the NJCAA National Tennis Tournament. She is likely to move up from #5 singles to #3 singles. She finished 7-5 in singles action.

National Ranking:

In mentioning of Carvalho-Landell and Gascon Martinez, the sophomore duo was ranked #4 in the nation after their strong performances in the ITA Regionals in St. Pete (Runner-up) and the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia (semifinalists). Carvalho-Landell and Gascon Martinez were also ranked in NJCAA Top 5 in singles action (#30: Carvalho-Landell; #33: Gascon Martinez).

Additionally, De Freitas Bonet was ranked #12 in the NJCAA Top 50 in singles and ranked #17 in the NJCAA Top 25 in doubles with Forsyth.

Schedule Breakdown:

The Manatees will begin with five matches on the road against five NCAA DII teams: Florida Southern, Nova Southeastern, Saint Leo, Embry-Riddle and the University of Tampa. The match against Tampa will be the season opener for the Manatees.

The Manatees will then have their home opener as they welcome NAIA Southeastern University (2/4) before playing another scrimmage against NCAA DII Rollins College.

After the scrimmage with Rollin, the Manatees will open conference play on the road against Eastern Florida State in Melbourne (2/11) before playing their final scrimmage against NCAA DII Flagler College.

They will resume conference play with a road match against Hillsborough (2/18) before returning home to welcome Central Alabama CC (2/22) and resuming conference play on the road against St. Pete (2/25).

The Manatees will then have another break as they will host six straight home matches. Three of the matches will close non-conference play: NAIA Florida National (3/2), Abraham Baldwin (3/11) and the University of West Georgia (3/22).

The Manatees will close conference play with three final home matches against HCC, SPC and Eastern Florida, with the final match being sophomore day for Carvalho-Landell, Mouton, De Freitas Bonet, Forsyth and Gascon Martinez, before closing the season with a scrimmage against NCAA DII Palm Beach Atlantic.

After the regular season, the Manatees will play in states and hopefully nationals afterwards.