Stormer, Varon make quarterfinals at ITA Florida Regional Championships

Match point ended and Eastern Florida State College women's tennis player Lea Stormer was overcome with emotion.

It wasn't that she had just upset ASA Miami's Yuliana Monroy 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the ITA Florida Regional Women's Tennis Championships at the Titan Tennis Complex.

It was that and so much more.

Just two days earlier, Stormer learned of her father's death. Instead of flying home, she decided to stay and play the tournament because she felt that's what he would have wanted her to do.

Now, she was celebrating a win over Monroy, who is ranked No. 1 in Colombia and No. 69 in the world in the ITF rankings – and No. 990 on the WTA Tour.

"That was the best moment," Stormer said. "I felt like I did everything right. I stayed. I played for him.

"… I couldn't say anything (after the match). I just cried."

Later in the day, the EFSC freshman from Hannover, Germany took the court again for her Round of 16 match against Titan teammate Filda Baldi and was leading 6-1, 2-1 when Baldi had to retire because of an injury.

That puts Stormer into today's quarterfinals against No. 4 seed – and defending tournament champion – Iulia Sergheeva of State College of Florida.

EFSC's Luisa Varon, the No. 3 seed, also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over ASA Miami's Dugleisy Linarez and a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of ASA Miami's Ghita Nassik.

Today's quarterfinals will begin at 8 a.m. at the Titan Tennis Complex, followed by the semifinals at 11 a.m. The finals will take place Sunday at 9 a.m.

Although Stormer and Varon were the only two Titans to make it to the quarterfinals, it was a big day for the EFSC program overall.

Amelle Cerdan won her first-round match 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 over Anatasha Worlds of Saint Petersburg College. Baldi upset No. 5 seed Nastassia Gonchorova of Broward College 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the Round of 16.

Elsewhere, EFSC's Giulianna Hull beat Dunja Kisin of Saint Petersburg 6-3, 6-0 and Josephine Karcher defeated ASA Miami's Sarah Wardenburg 6-3, 6-3 in their opening round matches.

With so many victories, particularly against two-time defending national champion ASA Miami, the Titans served notice they will be contenders come the spring season.

"We showed the depth of our roster by having all of our players come out and really perform at the highest level," Titans coach Jerry Thor said. "There are five of the top 10 JUCO teams in the country (here). The talent level is really high. Eastern Florida should be proud to have these women in the mix competing for a championship and representing them."

Of all the day's matches, however, the one with the biggest emotional tug had to be Stormer's opening-round encounter with Monroy.

Though she tried to keep her emotions in check throughout the match, Stormer admitted there were times when she thought about her father. But after dropping the first set, she played much better in the second set and as the third set approached, she told herself to just concentrate on the task at hand, even though she was starting to cramp in her calves.

"The third set, I tried to focus on the game because when I'm thinking about that, I can't play relaxed," she said. "I just tried to hit the balls, have fun – enjoy."

As Stormer played, her teammates stood by the fence, offering words of encouragement. They even had the giant stuffed bear wearing an EFSC shirt that one of them had given to her in the short time after her father passed.

And when she won, they were there to give her a hug.

"That was the best thing," Stormer said. "My teammates were always on my side, pushing me. Also, my teddy bear.

"… I had fun. I could laugh. They support me so good. It felt good that I have such good friends."

Thor was very happy for Stormer, too.

"I couldn't be more proud of Lea's performance today," he said. "She stayed focus. She was tough when she needed to be tough and she competed from start to finish. She really showed what being a Titan is all about out there on the tennis court by taking out one of the top freshmen in JUCO tennis."

The Titans coach was also happy with the steady game showed by Varon.

"She played like a top player," Thor said. "She had a tough first-round draw against a strong ASA player. She got through that match pretty smoothly and then really turned things up in the Round of 16 to advance pretty comfortably into the quarterfinals."

Stormer said she would sleep well Friday night, pleased with everything that took place on this day.

It wasn't easy, by any means, but she got through it – for herself, for her teammates, and for her father.

"I woke up (today) and I just thought, 'Yeah, I want to win. I want to win for him,'" she said. "I think he's proud. He always loved that I'm playing tennis. Now, I'm living my dream here and he supported me all the time.

"I tried my best. That's why I was so happy I won my first match, so emotional. … I was proud in this moment."

Today's matches

at Titan Tennis Center

8 a.m., Singles quarterfinals

Maria Medina (SCF) vs. Anita Detlava (SPC)

Lea Stormer (EFSC) vs. Iulia Sergheeva (SCF)

9 a.m.

Rhoda Tanui (SCF) vs. Luissa Varon (EFSC)

Jeung Yang (ASA) vs. Emily Chang (ASA)

8 a.m. Consolation round

Siri Victorsson (ASA) vs. Valeria Arevalo (EFSC)

Konomi Shida (BC) vs. Sarah Wardenburg (ASA)

9 a.m.

Satomi Momose (SPC) vs. Yuliana Monroy (ASA)

Maria Monica Diaz (SPC) vs. Dugleisy Linarez (ASA)

Doubles quarterfinals

8 a.m., resume postponed matches

Karcher/Varon (EFSC) lead Momose/Ruiz (SPC), 5-3

Rakotondrazafy/Sherman (SCF) lead Chang/Monroy (ASA), 6-5

Consolation doubles

8 a.m., resume postponed matches

Kisin/Worlds (SPC) leads Diaz/Montoya, 7-6

3 p.m., semifinals

Arevalo/Badi (EFSC) vs. Shida/Smashey (BC)