For the first time in his 28-year coaching career, Andy Jackson will be able to stay home for the regional championships.
Beginning today, the Gators will host the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships, a tournament featuring competitors from 14 schools across Florida and Georgia, including FSU, Georgia, South Florida and Florida Atlantic.
“The states of Florida and Georgia are two of the very best in the country in terms of men’s tennis,” Jackson said.
Jackson has been impressed with his team’s performance this fall, as four of seven players have earned national-level results.
The development of second-year players Sekou Bangoura Jr., Bob van Overbeek and Nassim Slilam has been a bright spot for the team following the departure of senior Antoine Benneteau in the spring.
“Nassim, Bob van Overbeek and Sekou Bangoura were three of the best freshmen in the country last year,” Jackson said. “This year they need to be three of the best players in the country like Antoine was last year.”
Women travel to Georgia: Eight players will travel to Athens, Ga., to take part in the four-day ITA Southeast Regional on Friday.
The tournament will be an opportunity for the team to improve on its performance at the ITA All-American, where coach Roland Thornqvist said none of the players put together a complete tournament.
