USF Athletics

South Florida Opens 2022 Spring Season This Weekend at FAMU and No. 20 Florida

January 22, 2022

MATCH ONE
MATCHUP: South Florida at Florida A&M
WHEN: Sunday, January 23, 2022
TIME: 2 p.m. (NEW MATCH TIME)
LOCATION: Tallahassee, Fla.
SITE: Althea Gibson Tennis Complex
 
MATCH TWO
MATCHUP: South Florida at No. 20 Florida
WHEN: Monday, January 24, 2022
TIME: 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Gainesville, Fla.
SITE: Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex
 
By Joey Johnston
 
TAMPA (Jan. 22, 2022) – The USF women's tennis coach Cristina Moros has enough returning experience to believe that her Bulls can compete for an American Athletic Conference championship. She also knows that there's always uncertainty and a learning curve when new players are incorporated into the lineup.
 
For perspective, she refers to a quote in her office.
 
What comes easy won't last. What lasts won't come easy.
 
"Building something stable and consistent, it does take time,'' said Moros, the former University of Texas All-American who is beginning her seventh season as USF's head coach. "This is something I have learned as a coach. Things do take time and you need to be patient.
 
"I do think we have a lot of room to grow. But our goals have stayed the same. We want to stay high in the conference and win the conference every year. The way you do that is to stay true to your beliefs and make sure you are bringing in the right recruits. If you do that, I believe you will get there at USF.''
 
The Bulls, who were 8-15 in dual matches last season and lost against UCF in the AAC Tournament quarterfinals, open Sunday against the Florida A&M Rattlers in Tallahassee before facing the Florida Gators on Monday in Gainesville. Florida is ranked No. 20 in the latest ITA Collegiate Tennis Top 25 Coaches Poll. USF's home opener is Feb. 4 against North Florida.
 
Moros said she was encouraged by USF's fall season. The Bulls had 24 match wins at the Bedford Cup while freshman Sierra Berry went 4-1 in singles and reached the finals during her first collegiate tournament. Berry defeated the No. 2 in the ITA Southeast Regional Championships qualifier and made the main draw, along with USF teammate Grace Schumacher. Meanwhile, Berry and Alexandria Mjos reached the semifinals at the UNF Fall Invitational.
 
Schumacher made the All-AAC team as a freshman with a 13-5 singles record and victories against three nationally ranked players. Junior Amelie Boy gained experience at No. 1 singles and doubles, while earning an AAC Player of the Week honor. Junior Laura Pellicer posted an 8-13 mark while facing six top 100-ranked opponents. Mjos, a fifth-year senior, will add a reliable presence.
 
Based on her fall showing, Berry's freshman progress bears watching.
 
"Our expectations are really high,'' Boy said. "I think we have a deep lineup and we have been building up to this moment.''
 
"We have some experienced players, but we also have some freshmen who are looking very strong,'' Schumacher said. "I think we will go as far as our hard work takes us. I'm very optimistic we will do well and we hope to peak at the end of the season, when we're trying to get the conference (title).''
 
Moros' program has tasted success. In her first spring season (2016), the Bulls went from four victories to a 17-7 mark and the AAC runner-up. In 2017, the Bulls capped a 15-11 season with the second AAC championship in program history. In 2019, the Bulls made it back to the AAC championship match, falling against UCF.
 
"Any coach will tell you there are often surprises when you go from practices to the matches,'' Moros said. "You try not to predict. But I do expect good things this season. Our team dynamic, I believe, is excellent right now. We have put in the work. Now it's time to go out and do it.''
 
Boy and Schumacher said the team will follow the lead of its coach, who achieved at the highest levels of college tennis when she played at Texas. There are lessons to be learned and Moros subtly works in her experiences as a teaching tool. Boy and Schumacher said that is beneficial, along with Moros' guidance with developing the total player, on and off the court.
 
"When I got here at USF, I had high hopes and high expectations,'' Moros said. "I still do.''
 
It takes time. It's not easy. But as the process continues, as the Bulls climb closer to AAC consistency, Moros said she believes she's building something that will last.
 
About Women's Tennis
Be sure to follow USF women's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. Head coach Cristina Moros will be in her sixth year at the helm, as she led the program to an American Athletic Conference Championship in 2017.