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ORLANDO

The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Championships were held a little over a week ago. With several Canadians proudly representing five universities, there was a lot of action to follow!

Two teams bowed out early—Dartmouth College and Dan Martin in the first round and North Carolina State University and Alexis Galarneau in the second—but the three remaining went further in the draw.

Columbia University and Jack Lin made it to the round of 16 with two brilliant 4-0 sweeps. In the second round against Penn State, Lin and his partner secured the winning point in doubles but were stopped in their tracks in the following round by Ohio State University, which was the favourite to win.

Playing impressive tennis, Benjamin Sigouin and Josh Peck managed to avenge their countryman’s honour. Qualified for the quarterfinals, the University of North Carolina (9) overpowered the favourites with four wins (4-2), including one in singles by Sigouin. Unfortunately, the team then suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to reigning champion Wake Forest University.

In the other half of the draw, the University of Texas (2) represented by Canadians Chih Chi Huang and Harrison Scott dominated the field and hoisted its very first winner’s trophy. The team overcame Wake Forest with conquests by Huang in doubles and Scott in singles.

Photo: Joe Murphy/USTA

On the women’s side, Ohio State University and Isabelle Boulais didn’t survive the first round against Georgia Tech, while UCLA and Ayan Broomfield reached the quarterfinals but were no match for the University of South Carolina. Still, Broomfield and American Gabby Andrews joined forces to end their careers on a high note by taking home the doubles crown.

Photo: Manuela Davies/USTA

With Vanessa Wong and Stacey Fong, the University of Washington went as far as the round of 16 but was shown the door by UCLA.

The NCAA Division I men’s and women’s singles tournaments, which are the closing events on the US college and university tennis circuit, also wrapped up last week. With the University of Texas winning on the men’s side and Stanford University prevailing on the women’s in the team events, the players then had the opportunity to shine on their own.

There were five Canadians in the Division I men’s singles event. Alexis Galarneau, Nicaise Muamba and Harrison Scott all lost in the first round, while Benjamin Sigouin and Jack Lin played until the round of 16.

Representing the University of North Carolina, Benjamin Sigouin was overwhelmed by eventual champion Paul Jubb of the University of South Carolina in two sets (6-1, 6-4).

Playing for Columbia University, Jack Lin racked up two solid wins and came very close to a spot in the quarterfinals but fell to Giovanni Oradini of the University of Mississippi in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-4).

In the women’s tournament, Isabelle Boulais—the only Canadian in the mix—lost to Fernanda Contreras (6) in two sets (7-6(3), 6-1).

Congrats to all the players for their great performances and exciting matches!

(Feature photo: Joe Murphy/USTA)

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