University of North Carolina Athletics
Daavettila, Jones To Compete At Blizzard Wild Card Challenge
December 10, 2018 | Women's Tennis
North Carolina women's tennis standouts Sara Daavettila and Makenna Jones have been chosen to compete at the Blizzard Wild Card Challenge Dec. 15-18 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
Daavettila, the 2017 ACC Freshman of the Year, won the 2018 ITA Carolinas Regional back in October to highlight her time on the court during the fall semester. She enters the spring season ranked No. 4 in singles.
Jones, the No. 2 ranked singles and doubles player in the country, reached the semifinals at the 2018 Riviera/ITA All-Americans in October, and the semis in both singles and doubles at the 2018 Oracle ITA Fall Championships last month in Surprise, Arizona.
The women's champion will earn a spot in the main draw of a 2019 $60K tournament, while the men's winner will receive a main-draw wild card to the Orlando ATP 80 Challenger event that starts Dec. 31. Along with wild cards, the student-athletes also will be competing for a guaranteed spot on the 2019 Collegiate National Team. A member of the squad receives grant money to travel to professional tournaments and coaching from USTA Player Development staff.
Eight men and eight women will be divided into two groups for round-robin play, with the top two in each group advance to the semifinals on Dec. 17. The finals will take place Dec. 18.
The event is being hosted by USTA Player Development and the USTA Collegiate Department.
Live streaming will be available on USTANationalCampus.com, and live scoring will accompany the semifinals and finals.
2018 BLIZZARD WILD CARD CHALLENGE COMPETITORS
Women
-Kelly Chen
-Sara Daavettila
-Salma Ewing
-Michaela Gordon
-Makenna Jones
-Ashley Lahey
-Brienne Minor
-Sophie Whittle
Men
-Alafia Ayeni
-Oliver Crawford
-Brandon Holt
-John McNally
-Emil Reinberg
-Sam Riffice
-Alex Rybakov
-Keegan Smith
Sunday, Dec. 16
10 a.m. – Round-Robin Play
4 p.m. – Round-Robin Play
Monday, Dec. 17
10 a.m. – Women's Semifinals and Consolation
To by followed by – Men's Semifinals
Tuesday, Dec. 18
10 a.m. – Finals and Consolation
Daavettila, the 2017 ACC Freshman of the Year, won the 2018 ITA Carolinas Regional back in October to highlight her time on the court during the fall semester. She enters the spring season ranked No. 4 in singles.
Jones, the No. 2 ranked singles and doubles player in the country, reached the semifinals at the 2018 Riviera/ITA All-Americans in October, and the semis in both singles and doubles at the 2018 Oracle ITA Fall Championships last month in Surprise, Arizona.
The women's champion will earn a spot in the main draw of a 2019 $60K tournament, while the men's winner will receive a main-draw wild card to the Orlando ATP 80 Challenger event that starts Dec. 31. Along with wild cards, the student-athletes also will be competing for a guaranteed spot on the 2019 Collegiate National Team. A member of the squad receives grant money to travel to professional tournaments and coaching from USTA Player Development staff.
Eight men and eight women will be divided into two groups for round-robin play, with the top two in each group advance to the semifinals on Dec. 17. The finals will take place Dec. 18.
The event is being hosted by USTA Player Development and the USTA Collegiate Department.
Live streaming will be available on USTANationalCampus.com, and live scoring will accompany the semifinals and finals.
2018 BLIZZARD WILD CARD CHALLENGE COMPETITORS
Women
-Kelly Chen
-Sara Daavettila
-Salma Ewing
-Michaela Gordon
-Makenna Jones
-Ashley Lahey
-Brienne Minor
-Sophie Whittle
Men
-Alafia Ayeni
-Oliver Crawford
-Brandon Holt
-John McNally
-Emil Reinberg
-Sam Riffice
-Alex Rybakov
-Keegan Smith
2018 BLIZZARD WILD CARD CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Saturday, Dec. 15
Sunday, Dec. 16
10 a.m. – Round-Robin Play
4 p.m. – Round-Robin Play
Monday, Dec. 17
10 a.m. – Women's Semifinals and Consolation
To by followed by – Men's Semifinals
Tuesday, Dec. 18
10 a.m. – Finals and Consolation
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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