MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 23, 2016) – The University of South Florida women's tennis team fell 4-0 to the No. 1 seed Tulsa in the American Championship final Saturday afternoon at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.
“I think it came down to a couple points, especially in doubles, we just didn't execute when we could have, and it kind of gave the momentum to them,” said head coach Cristina Moros. “We definitely had our chances and to put ourselves in the position to have chances, against a team like that I got to be happy.”
The No. 56 Bulls (17-7) had a tough afternoon trying to get things started. USF lost the first two doubles matches and dropped the doubles point. The Bulls fought hard, even securing slim leads in double, but No. 30 Tulsa (21-4) always found a way to respond.
It was much of the same for USF as play moved to singles. The Golden Hurricane managed to jump out to leads and secure first sets on multiple courts. The Bulls would not back down as the team pushed Tulsa to the brink.
USF had leads on a few courts but Tulsa would win the first three singles matches to clinch the American Championship for the second consecutive season.
“I've got to be happy with what we've done, going from last in the conference to finishing second this year,” said Moros. “We've had an incredible year and there's no reason to put our heads down, we have to keep our heads up high because this experience is only going to make us better for next year.”
Overall it was a truly remarkable season for the Bulls. Just a season ago, the team only won four matches. Under first year head coach Cristina Moros, USF won 15 regular season matches and finished runner-up in the American Championships.
“When I go back and really reflect on what we looked like on Jan.19 to what we look like now, it is night and day the difference in improvement,” said Moros. “I've watched these young ladies come out of their shells and come out as very strong young women that really believe in themselves, that's happened on and off the court, I couldn't be prouder of the progress that they made.”
For more information on the USF women's tennis team, follow @USFWomensTennis on Twitter and for more information on the American Championships you can visit the website HERE.
