The Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Lady Hawks Tennis team became the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) State Champions on April 12-14 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, FL. They will move onto the 2023 NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Tennis Championship on May 6-10 in Tyler, TX.
“I was so proud of the Lady Hawks for how they competed at the state tournament,” HCC athletic director and tennis head coach, Sarah Lytle, said. “They support each other and played every point with heart.”
Lytle was also named the 2023 FCSAA Coach of the Year, her third year in a row receiving this honor.
HCC swept all six singles wins and three doubles flights to take home the championship after entering the tournament ranked No. 1, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Women’s National Team Rankings. The Hawks’ opponents were No. 5 ranked St. Petersburg College (SPC), No. 9 ranked Eastern Florida State College and no. 10 ranked State College of Florida (SCF) for the state tournament.
The Lady Hawks singles and doubles scores are as follows:
- Flight 1 doubles vs. SPC (6-2, 6-4) – Arina Gamretkaia and Esmee Andresen
- Flight 2 doubles vs. SPC (6-0, 6-0) – Alicia Gomez and Yoana Dudova
- Flight 3 doubles vs. SPC (6-3, 6-1) – Paula Cabrer Pericas and Rocio Martinez Azcarraga
- Flight 1 singles vs. SPC (6-0, 6-3) – Arina Gamretkaia
- Flight 2 singles vs. Eastern Florida (6-1, 6-2) – Esmee Andresen
- Flight 3 singles vs. SPC (6-1, 6-3) – Ita Habekovic
- Flight 4 singles vs. SPC (6-2, 2-6, 6-2) – Alicia Gomez
- Flight 5 singles vs. Eastern Florida (6-0, 6-1) – Camilla Mitolo
- Flight 6 singles vs. SPC (6-1, 6-0) – Paula Cabrer Pericas
“We have some tough competition at the national level, but I know this team has set high expectations for themselves and each other,” Lytle said. “Their eyes are on the championship title.”
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 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.
HCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Hillsborough Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 3033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Visit hccfl.edu/accreditation for more information.