Southern players and organizations are constantly making their mark in the world of tennis. Here's a list of recent awards, achievements and news in June 2016.
Lauren Herring was a five-time All-American at UGA. Photo: Bill Kallenberg |
Herring wins debut Baton Rouge doubles;
reaches Buffalo singles final
Greenville, N.C. native Lauren Herring teamed with with Ellen Perz to win the Southern Lifestye Deveopment Classic.
It was the first year of the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit tournament in Baton Rouge, La.
A former University of Georgia All-American, Herring played with rising UGA junior Perez, of Australia. They defeated the second-seeded Jamie Loeb/Ingrid Neel 6-3, 6-3.
Earlier this month, Herrring reached the final of the $10,000 Sargent & Collins LLP Women's Tennis Tournament, played in Buffalo, N.Y.
Herring finished her UGA career as a five-time All-American and ranked second in all-time UGA doubles wins (118) and second in all-time UGA combined singles/doubles wins (238) after posting a 120-29 career singles mark and 118-40 career record in doubles.
Herring fell to Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 7-5. in the final. Seeded No. 5, Herring defeated Andie Daniell, of Douglasville, Ala.in the quarterfinals. Daniell was named ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year in her play this year for the University of Alabama.
Kwiatkowski teams up to win collegiate event
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, of Charlotte, N.C., and Jared Hiltzik won the $25K Winston-Salem Futures played in the North Carolina city. Kwiatkowski, a University of Virginia rising senior was named NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player, ITA Singles All-American and to the All-ACC second team this year.
The winners defeated Austin Smith, the University of Georgia standout and Cumming, Ga. resident, and Dennis Uspensky 6-4, 6-2.
This is the ignaugual season of the USTA Pro Circuit Collegiate series, designed to have college players go up against touring pros. The event is also an ITF Futures tournament.