Bradenton, Fla - The SCF tennis team will open the 2022 season at home as they welcome Southeastern University (NAIA) to the SCF Tennis Complex Friday afternoon, February 4 at 4:30 pm.
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, Natalia Vuckovic and Sakurako Suzuki. Gascon Martinez joined the Manatees as a sophomore transfer from Eastern Florida State, while Suzuki joined the team during the spring semester.
All four returners for the Manatees are coming back: Kia Carvalho-Landell, Sarah Forsyth, Luna Mouton and Lou De Freitas 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 #2 singles.
National Ranking:
In mentioning of Carvalho-Landell and Gascon Martinez, the sophomore duo is 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). Additonally, Carvalho-Landell and Gascon Martinez were ranked in NJCAA Top 5 in singles action (#30: Carvalho-Landell; #33: Gascon Martinez).
De Freitas Bonet is ranked #12 in the NJCAA Top 50 in singles and ranked #17 in the NJCAA Top 25 in doubles with Forsyth.
Scouting Southeastern:
The Lady Flames are lead by head coach Drew Dickens, who enters his fourth season as head coach and coming off finishing last season 5-7 overall with a 2-4 record in the Sun Conference. They did not qualify for the Sun Conference Tournament or NAIA National Tournament.
Dickens will bring back the majority of the entire roster which includes sophomore Abigail Damon and junior Beatrice Letizia. Both Damon and Letizia had seven wins in dual singles action. In fact, they were the only two players that had more wins than loss on their singles records.
Series History:
The series between SCF and Southeastern is tied at 1-1.
Fans can keep up with the SCF tennis team on their Twitter: @TennisSCF
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