NCAA Tennis: Flagler College women back in Round of 16 in Orlando
Flagler women's tennis team is back on the national stage for a second consecutive season.
No. 5 Flagler (20-4), the fourth seed, is in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II national championships with a match against Wilmington (Delaware) (19-3) at noon Friday at the USTA National Tennis Center in Orlando.
This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Live stats: Flagler College vs. Wilmington (Delaware)
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Flagler, winners of seven straight, arrived in Orlando by defeating Georgia College 4-2 to win Southeast Region 1 on May 2. The last loss was against No. 1 Barry on April 7. Barry is the top seed for the championships.
Wilmington University advanced by beating District of Columbia 4-1 on May 2. The Wildcats had lost two straight before entering the lone match for NCAA Tournament East Region 1.
Wilmington has won regional championships in back-to-back years, both at home. Last season Wilmington swept Le Moyne 4-0 before losing to UIndy in the first round of the NCAA championships in Orlando.
Flagler has two players ranked in the top 10 nationally in the ITA rankings. Senior Luisa Hrda, the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year and Peach Belt Conference Tournament singles MVP, is at No. 4.
Junior Nadja Meier is at No. 9. She was named to the 2023 ALL-Peach Belt Conference first team for singls and second team for doubles.
Flagler's No. 1 doubles of Hrda and Dana Heimen are ranked No. 18. The pair was named Peach Belt Conference Tournament doubles MVP.
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Round of 16
What: NCAA Division II national championship
Who: Flagler College vs. Wilmington (Delaware)
When: Noon Friday, May 12
Where: Courts 7 through 12 at USTA National Campus, 10000 USTA Blvd., Orlando
Admission: Free. Tickets not required for Division II matches.
Live stream: https://www.ncaa.com
Full schedule and tournament information: https://www.ustanationalcampus.com/en/home/collegiate/ncaa-championships.html
Projected lineups
No. 5 Flagler (20-4, 7-0 Peach Belt)
Singles
No. 1: Luisa Hrda, senior, 29-7 record, ITA rank: 4
No. 2: Nadja Meier, junior, 36-2, ITA rank: 9
No. 3: Dana Heimen, redshirt freshman, 25-4, ITA rank: 67
No. 4: Eryka Kruk, freshman, 19-12
No. 5: Laura Jipescu, sophomore, 16-7
No. 6: Charlotta Buss, freshman, 24-7
Doubles
No. 1: Luisa Hrda/Dana Heimen, 17-4, ITA rank: 18
No. 2: Laura Jipescu/Addison Skye Breunich, 2-6
No. 3: Florencia Massardo Brain/Nadja Meier, 9-3
Coaches: Rodrigo Puebla, head coach (2017-present); Aline Berkenbrock, volunteer assistant.
No. 44 Wilmington (Delaware) (19-3)
Singles
No. 1: Neus Ramos Moreno, freshman, 15-3 record
No. 2: Jess Purdy, junior, 12-3
No. 3: Alva Norberg, freshman, 8-5
No. 4: Fenna Swaan, sophomore, 9-3
No. 5: Marley Trifunovic, sophomore, 12-4
No. 6: Larize Nel, junior, 13-3
Doubles
No. 1: Jess Purdy / Neus Ramos Moreno, 13-3
No. 2: Alva Norberg / Marley Trifunovic, 5-3
No. 3: Larize Nel / Fenna Swaan, 3-0
Coaches: Troy Donato (2019-present); Boubacar Toure, assistant; Joe Hodge, assistant
Who made the Round of 16
No. 1 Barry, No. 2 Nova Southeastern, No. 3 Hawaii Pacific, No. 4 Flagler, No. 5 Azusa Pacific, No. 6 Wayne St., No. 7 Columbus St., No. 8 Charleston (W.Va.), No. 9 Cameron, No. 10 St. Mary’s, No. 11 Indiana (Pa.), No. 12 Washburn, No. 13 Wilmington (Del.), No. 14 St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 15 Drury, No. 16 Missouri Western
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: NCAA TENNIS PREVIEW: Flagler women at Division II national championship
