Titans Finish Fifth in Women's Tennis Regional Tournament; Trio Claims Consolation Title

One day, Jerry Thor plans to look back on this as the launching point for a long string of impressive performances for the Eastern Florida State College women's tennis team at the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Tournament and beyond.

The Titans wound up in fifth place Saturday after the two-day event held at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, equaling their program-best finish from last season.

Sophomore team captain Nicole Trio won the consolation championship at No. 4 singles Saturday, defeating her opponent from Hillsborough Community College 6-0, 6-0.

The No. 2 doubles team of Annaleigh Collings and Giulianna Hull and the No. 3 team of Ann-Kathrin Zilles and Ana Cristina Orozco both lost their semifinal matches.

Hull and Collings also lost in their consolation singles finals, as did the No. 1 doubles team of Trio and Katharina Drebka.

While the Titans may have equaled last year's overall finish, this season stood apart from the program's first two years in a number of areas.

EFSC set a record for victories, both overall, 10, and in the region, four.

Two of those victories came against No. 8 Hillsborough Community College, marking the first time in program history that EFSC has beaten a top 10 nationally ranked team.

Thor, in his first season coaching the program, definitely made his mark directing a starting lineup that – aside from Trio – featured all freshmen.

Now, he intends to build on it.

"I think it was a successful first year in terms of establishing a legitimate program and improving our players," Thor said. "We're certainly not where we want to be, but we are moving in the right direction.

"The players will now turn all of their attention to finishing strong academically, and I will don my recruiting hat and finish assembling next year's roster."