University of South Florida women’s tennis earned 13 combined singles and doubles victories at the ITA Division I Women’s Southeast Regional Championship in Miami, led by Zoe Lazar and Kelly Loana Vargas Gonzalez with five combined wins.
The University of Miami hosted the tournament. Lazar and Vargas Gonzalez advanced to the doubles round of 16 after defeating Florida’s fifth-seeded Scarlett Nicholson and Gabia Paskauskas, 8-6.
Lazar and Vargas Gonzalez advance in doubles
Lazar and Vargas Gonzalez opened doubles competition with an 8-7 (3) victory over Georgia State’s Ayra Salim and Sara Montaño Parada. They followed with the 8-6 win over Nicholson and Paskauskas, giving the South Florida pair two victories in the event. The duo concluded its tournament in the doubles round of 16.
Lazar also earned a singles victory over Kennesaw State’s Adela Zingorova, winning 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5). Vargas Gonzalez recorded two singles victories, defeating Florida International’s Mia Sarcev, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, and Florida Gulf Coast’s Cecilie Maeland, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
South Florida adds singles victories
Paulina Montiel and Sienna Leeson each earned three-set singles victories. Montiel defeated Stetson’s Yuki Mizuguchi, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, while Leeson defeated Florida International’s Jelena Vico, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Margherita Marcon defeated Kennesaw State’s Jenne Roberts, 6-2, 6-4, in the consolation round of 16. Francesca Miglio defeated Georgia State’s Sveva Bernardi, 7-6 (2), 6-0, in the same round.
Marcon also defeated Georgia State’s Ayra Salim and FAU’s Alexia Patru in singles, including a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Patru. Miglio defeated North Florida’s Jessica Gunter before beating UCF’s Jade Psonka, 3-6, 6-2, 10-8, in the deciding match tiebreak.
What comes next for University of South Florida women’s tennis
South Florida returns to action Oct. 22-25 at the American Fall Individual Conference Championships in Houston, Texas. The tournament will be the program’s next scheduled event after its 13 victories in Miami.
Head coach Cristina Moros is entering her 12th season leading the South Florida women’s tennis program in 2026-27.
FSB Take
South Florida’s tournament results featured contributions from six players in singles and a two-match doubles run from Lazar and Vargas Gonzalez. The program’s next competition in Houston will provide another opportunity for its players to compete in the fall individual schedule.
Source: Original report