THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BEATS BOSTON COLLEGE TO WIN USTA TENNIS ON CAMPUS FALL INVITATIONAL

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – The University of Georgia club tennis team beat Boston College, 24-15, to win the 2015 USTA Tennis On Campus Fall Invitational on Sunday under cloudy skies on the final day of play at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs went 18-3 in the three doubles sets for the difference in the match, even though they lost both the men’s and women’s singles matches by 6-3 scores. By making the final, both teams received an automatic bid into the 2016 Tennis On Campus National Championships set for April 14-16 in Cary, N.C.

Georgia opened up a commanding 12-3 lead heading into singles as the women’s doubles team of Sheridan Schuster and Stephanie Grodecki won their doubles match, 6-1, and the men’s doubles team of Brian Brandt and Graham McNerney followed that with a 6-2 win over their Eagles opponents.

It was the first time since the event’s inception in 2010 that a USTA Southern Section team took home the title as the University of Alabama won the first Fall Invitational six years ago.

Other past champions include the University of Florida (2014 and 2013), Duke (2012) and Virginia (2011).

“Our new freshman were the difference, and our doubles play,” captain McNerney said. “Every line did great. It feels amazing. It’s awesome to win the Fall Invitational for the first time.”

The Eagles took a 12-6 advantage in singles play as Alena Frye and Colin Crawford won 6-3 matches pulling Boston College within three (18-15) heading into the final match, mixed doubles. From there McNerney and Marcinkowski pounded out a 6-0 to put an exclamation point on the undefeated weekend.

Georgia players included: Brian Brandt (Atlanta), David Brown (Atlanta), Ansley Bridges (Marietta, Ga.), Stephanie Grodecki (Germantown, Md.), Cole Adler (Alpharetta, Ga.), Graham McNerney (Marietta, Ga.), Sheridan Schuster (Snellville, Ga.), Emily Shull (Peachtree City, Ga.), Annie Marcinkowski (Johns Creek, Ga.).

This event marked the sixth consecutive year that the USTA Tennis on Campus program has hosted a season-opening event. The TOC Fall Invitational is designed to give students the chance to compete against club teams from other colleges to maximize their playing experience and to provide an opportunity to claim an automatic bid into the National Championship.

During the Fall Invitational, students will not only had an opportunity to socialize with other teams but also networked with representatives from both the Tennis Industry Association and the Professional Tennis Registry to learn about future career opportunities in tennis. Following the tournament, schools continue to compete around the country on a section level, within the USTA’s 17 sections.

The USTA Tennis On Campus program features more than 35,000 college students competing nationwide in intramural and intercollegiate club play using the World TeamTennis format. Since its inception in 2000, Tennis On Campus has grown significantly and today is played on more than 600 college campuses across the country. Developed by the USTA in partnership with NIRSA, World TeamTennis and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the Tennis On Campus program gives college students the opportunity to build leadership skills, network in a coed sports environment and compete on a college team without the rigors of playing in a varsity program. With year-round match play and regional and national championship competition, students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years.

Gold Bracket

Final

Georgia 24, Boston College 15

Women’s Doubles:

Sheridan Schuster-Stephanie Grodecki (UGA) def. Erica Pascocello-Alexis Ditomassi (BC), 6-1

Men’s Doubles:

Brian Brandt-Graham McNerney (UGA) def. Michael Gauch-Jake Sheehan (BC), 6-2

Women’s Singles

Alena Frye (BC) def. Annie Marcinkowski and sub Stephanie Grodecki (UGA), 6-3

Men’s Singles

Colin Crawford (BC) def. Cole Adler and sub Brian Brandt (UGA), 6-3

Mixed Doubles

McNerney-Marcinkowski (UGA) def. Crawford-Pascocello (BC), 6-0

Sunday’s Final Results

Gold Bracket

Final

Georgia 24, Boston College 15

Third place: Central Florida 30, Virginia Tech 18

Fifth place: Florida 26, Cornell 17

Seventh place: North Carolina 28, William and Mary 9

Ninth place: Georgia Tech 30, Auburn 21

11th place: Alabama and Ohio State (unplayed)

13th place: Northwestern 16, Pittsburgh 10

15th place: Pennsylvania 15, N.C. State 13

Silver Bracket

Champion: Washington-St. Louis 25, Duke 22

Third place: Kennesaw State 26, Ohio University 21

Fifth place: Vanderbilt 25, Connecticut 20

Seventh place: Kentucky 28, College of Charleston 17

Bronze Bracket

Champion: Louisiana State 24, Georgia College 23

Third place: Clemson 20, Cincinnati 18

Fifth place: Toledo 25, Tennessee 23

Seventh place: Ferris State 16, Wisconsin 15

Copper Bracket

Champion: Harvard 25, Colorado School of Mines 22

Third place: Furman 14, Johns Hopkins 12

Fifth place: Elon 25, Wake Forest 21

Seventh place: Mercer 26, Coastal Carolina 15

Fun Bracket

Champion: Villanova 22, James Madison 21

Third place: Tennessee-Chattanooga 25, Georgia Southern 11

Fifth place: New Hampshire 17, Dayton 13

Seventh place: Armstrong State 22, Old Dominion 17

Tennis on Campus Fall Invitational Past Champions:

2015 — University of Georgia

2014 — University of Florida

2013 — University of Florida

2012 — Duke University

2011 — University of Virginia

2010 — University of Alabama

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.