Gonzalez Punches Ticket To NCAAs

ATLANTA, Ga. – Junior Raquel Gonzalez earned a spot in the NCAA Singles Championships in Waco, Texas, after reaching the final match of the ITA Southeast Regional Championships.

Gonzalez, a transfer from Oklahoma State, claimed five-straight wins for the finalist title. She kicked off the tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Anja Draskovic (FIU) in the round of 64, before nearly shutting out FSU’s No. 98 Kristyna Lavickova, 6-0, 6-2. Gonzalez then advanced after a 7-5, 6-2 win over No. 87 Aya El Aouni (UCF) to advance into the quarterfinals, ultimately where she grabbed the 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win against No. 75 Guillermina Grant (UGA).

The Spaniard then punched her ticket to the NCAA Singles Championships after she defeated Victoria Gomez O’Hayon (FAU), 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, in the semifinals. Despite the dominant run, Gonzalez fell in the final match to FIU’s No. 79 Ekaterina Khayrutdinova, 6-3, 6-1, to wrap her time in Atlanta.

The Hurricanes will continue fall play at the ITA Sectional Championships in Athens, Ga., on Nov. 7-10.