While the Gators dominated the Gator Invitational last weekend, they face a difficult test this weekend as they travel to Meadowood, Calif., to take part in the Napa Valley Tennis Classic.
Six of the nation’s top tennis programs – California-Berkley, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Southern California – will bring four players to participate in the round-robin event.
The tournament also features eight of the nation’s top junior players, including the US Open boys’ champion Jack Sock.
Players will be divided into eight pools comprised of three collegians and one junior. After three matches, the eight winners will compete in a single-elimination, 10-point tie-break tournament.
The winner of the tournament will receive a United States Tennis Association-sponsored wild card into one of its pro circuit events.
Even though the level of competition is much higher, the team has a dependable leader to lean on in senior Alexandre Lacroix.
Lacroix said even though the team played well in the first tournament, they know they have to follow up with another strong performance.
“There are better players in this tournament,” Lacroix said. “We’ve put in really good preparation.”
As the lone senior, Lacroix has embraced his new role as a leader.
“I want to show them how to be the best on the court and off the court,” he said.
Three of the team’s younger players – sophomore Billy Federhofer and freshmen Michael Alford and Andrew Butz – will also play this weekend as they travel to Athens, Ga., to participate in the 43rd annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships.
Hosted by the University of Georgia, it is the nation’s oldest fall college tennis tournament, and features players from 36 schools around the south including Alabama, LSU, Miami and Tennessee.
The tournament should be a good opportunity for the freshmen to showcase their talents on a bigger stage after they had great debuts last weekend.
There will be three singles divisions and two doubles divisions. One champion will be crowned from each division, and there will be a maximum of two rounds of singles consolation.
There will be no doubles consolation.
