This past season the Southwestern Athletic Conference crowned champions in 18 sports. In what was a remarkable athletic year, we look back at the teams that emerged as league champions. Our next flashback features the 2023 SWAC Women's Tennis Champions Florida A&M University.
NEW ORLEANS, La.- Florida A&M Women's Tennis defeated Jackson State on Sunday to claim the 2023 SWAC Women's Tennis Tournnament Championship.
For the 11th time this season versus SWAC opponents, the Rattlers won the doubles point in dramatic fashion. Veronica Rodriguez and Rebekkah Gaines won their match 6-3.
After Regan Harris and Genesis Whitelock lost their match, it was up to Sierra Sandy and Sara Rakim to secure the point. Sandy and Rakim went back and forth with the Tigers as they won 7-6, winning the tiebreaker point 10-8.
In singles play, Sandy dominated her opponent winning 6-1, 6-1. Gaines won her match 6-3, 7-5 and Harris clinched the win for the Rattlers winning 0-6, 6-2, 6-4.
This marked the Rattlers first SWAC Championship Title after joining the league last season.
A complete listing of All-Tournament Team honors can be found below.
Most Valuable Player
Reagan Harris, Florida A&M
Coach of the Year
Rochelle Houston, Florida A&M
All-Tournament Team
Urska Velec, Alabama State
Tyra-Nicole Whyte, Jackson State
Paula Arcarons, Jackson State
Sierra Sandy, Florida A&M
Rebekkah Gaines, Florida A&M
Reagan Harris, Florida A&M
Florida A&M 4, Jackson State 2
Singles
1. Rebekkah Gaines (FAMU) def. Robin Alston (JSU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Veronica Rodriguez (FAMU) vs. Paula Arcarons (JSU) 6-4, 6-6 (4-1), unfinished
3. Tyra-Nicole Whyte (JSU) def. Sara Rakim (FAMU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Sierra Sandy (FAMU) def. De'Alva Alston (JSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Daniela Ramos (JSU) def. Genesis Whitelock (FAMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Reagan Harris (FAMU) def. Zeina Shaaban (JSU) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1. Sierra Sandy/Sara Rakim (FAMU) def. Paula Arcarons/Daniela Ramos (JSU) 7-6 (10-8)
2. Tyra-Nicole Whyte/Robin Alston (JSU) def. Reagan Harris/Genesis Whitelock (FAMU) 6-2
3. Veronica Rodriguez/Rebekkah Gaines (FAMU) def. Zeina Shaaban/Isabela Benavides (JSU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,1,5,6)
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.