Coyotes Tennis Dominates at ITA Regionals

The Coastal Alabama Community College men’s and women’s tennis teams in Bay Minette had tremendous success at the recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Southeast Regional Championships. Top-ranked teams from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama competed at the Sand Mountain Amphitheater and Park in Albertville, Ala., where the Coyote women amassed seven singles wins and five doubles wins, to compliment the 12 singles wins and five doubles victories by the men.

Sophomore Sophie Smith of Birmingham, England, and freshman Julianne Legg of Mobile, Ala., upset the number two seeded Wallace State-Hanceville duo of Noel D'Angellilo and Alexandra Lunders in a thrilling three set match to take home the women's doubles championship. In earning the top prize, the duo also received an automatic bid to compete in the ITA Cup in Rome, Ga., on Oct. 12-16, an event that features singles and doubles regional champions from the seven national regions.

On the road to the championship, Smith and Legg earned key victories over Marion Military Institute and Oxford of Emory's Olha Los and Marie Chastel. Outside of doubles, Smith made a run to the finals in the singles draw, falling in three sets to Kitti Nemeth from ABAC while Legg cruised to the B Draw finals before falling to Oxford of Emory. 

"Having the opportunity to compete in one of the toughest regions in the nation and coming away with early success has given our players the confidence needed to make a run for their conference titles this spring,” said Head Tennis Coach Kouri Allen. “Sophie and Julianne are one of the first teams from Alabama to qualify for the ITA Cup out of Southeast Region, and they look forward to showing that ACCC tennis is a nation contender."