(TAMPA, Fla., 4/20/21) – The Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Lady Hawks Tennis team became the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 8 State Champions on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in Sanlando Park, Orlando. They will prepare to head to Mesa, Arizona, for the National Championship which begins on May 1.
“Our team came really together and left their hearts on the court,” said Sarah Summerfield, who serves as both HCC athletic director and head tennis coach. “I am so proud of all of the hard work and discipline they have displayed this season.”
In the regular season, the team completed an impressive, undefeated season as 6-0 against Eastern Florida State College, St. Petersburg College and State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, all of which the team played twice.
In addition to the team honor, the Lady Hawks received multiple individual recognitions during the tournament:
- Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya: Flight 3 Singles Champion
- Ana Villalvazo: Flight 4 Singles Champion
- Isadora Oliveira: Flight 5 Singles Champion
- Olivia Pezo: Flight 6 Singles Champion
- Magda Tuells and Isadora Oliveira: Flight 2 Doubles Champion
- Ana Villalvazo and Olivia Pezo: Flight 3 Doubles Champion
- Mbali Langia: Singles Flight 1 Runner-up
- Magda Tuells: Singles Flight 2 Runner-up
- Mbali Langa and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya: Doubles Flight 1 Runner-up
Summerfield was also named the 2021 FSCAA Tennis Coach of the Year.
“You can’t ask more from your players than how our team performed this past weekend,” assistant coach Chris Nyholm said. “As we say, Hawks fly together.”
The Lady Hawks currently practice and compete at the Tejas Pradip Patel HCC Tennis Center, located on the Dale Mabry Campus. For court registration, center hours and more, please visit hccfl.edu/tennis-center.
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 47,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. The College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.