ASA Miami returns to prominence with DI national title
ASA Miami (FL) claimed six titles on the final day of competition to take home the program’s second NJCAA DI Women’s Tennis Championship in Tyler, TX with a team total of 46 points. Two-time defending champions and tournament host Tyler (TX) claimed three titles to finish in a second-place tie with Hillsborough (FL) at 42 points, marking the second consecutive year the three teams have finished in the top three at the national championship.
One year removed from claiming the No. 2 singles title at the 2018 championship, Tyler’s Maria Genovese captured No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 victory, the fourth consecutive year an Apache has claimed the top singles title.
Genovese cruised into the semifinal round before enduring a grueling matchup with Broward's Dyane Del Bosque. Genovese survived with a 7-5, 7-6(2) victory before ultimately capturing the top flight championship.
The No. 1 singles bout was a matchup of the 2018 No. 2 singles championship between Genovese and Hillsborough's Hana Kvapilova. The two standouts were seeded first and second, respectively in flight one singles this year.
Brian Slack was named the Coach of the Tournament after winning his ninth NJCAA tennis championship. Slack has led two ASA Miami women’s programs, two ASA New York women’s programs, two ASA Miami men’s programs, two ASA New York men’s programs, and one Vincennes men’s program to national prominence.
A roster comprised of all freshmen, ASA Miami was led by four singles titles to go along with the No. 1 doubles championship. While the championship is the second in ASA Miami’s history, the ASA program previously competed at its New York campus where the women’s side won two prior titles, all under head coach Brian Slack.
The Storm were led by Michaela Krauskova and Tatiana Simova as both student-athletes teamed up to take home No. 1 doubles while also securing individual single titles. Simova took home No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-2 while Krauskova earned the No. 5 singles title 6-1, 6-1.
While Tyler’s hopes of a three-peat came up just short, the Apaches’ consistent presence as one of the most dominant NJCAA programs continued. Tyler has placed inside the top three in all but one year since 1998 and have won an NJCAA record 19 team championships.
Along with Genovese’s No. 1 singles title, the Apaches were led by Helena Jansen’s championship in No. 4 singles and later teamed up with Summer Yardley to claim No. 2 doubles. Jansen’s singles title came in a thrilling 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) match against Hillsborough’s Shaylee Syme.
ASA Miami held a slim 42-41 advantage over Hillsborough entering the championship flight round. Tyler sat in a close third with 39 points as all three teams battled for the coveted national championship on Thursday.
Unwelcome weather wreaked havoc on the Tyler, TX area and forced venue changes as teams made the 103-mile trek to Southern Methodist University on Wednesday before finishing up the tournament at Collin College in Mckinney, TX on Thursday.
