Rodrigues/Bermudez to Play For ITA National Championship
Following a strong day one of competition at the ITA Oracle Cup Tournament in Surprise, Arizona, the Seward County doubles duo of Thalita Rodrigues and Steffany Bermudez will play for the National Championship on Friday night after gutting out a three set win in the first round and hammering top seeded Eastern Florida State in the semis to reach the title match.
It has been a whirlwind for Rodrigues and Bermudez over the past three weeks, going from winning the ITA Regional Tournament in Oklahoma City to weeks ago, to going winless in Plano, Texas last weekend, and now squaring off against some of the best players the nation has to offer in the ITA Oracle Cup on Thursday. In their first round match, the duo took on the Abraham Baldwin combo of Yehouenou/Morel and fell behind early with a 6-3 first set defeat before bouncing back to even the match at one with 6-4 win of their own in the second. In the tiebreak the Lady Saints rose to the star studded occasion, finishing off the ABAC combo 10-5 to push their way onto the semifinals.
In the semis Rodrigues and Bermudez opposed the top seeded doubles team in the country in Karcher/Varon of Eastern Florida State, coached by former Lady Saints coach Jerry Thor. Rodrigues and Bermudez took it right at the Titans in the first, hammering them 6-2 and never let up in the second, winning 6-3 to complete the shocker of the tournament.
Friday night the duo will look to become Seward's first ever National Champions on the women's side as they take on 2nd seeded Medina/Sergheeva of State College of Florida in the title match in Surprise.