TAMPA, Fla. (April 24, 2017) - Broward College claimed the 2017 FCSAA State Championship in women's tennis and is one of three teams from Region 8 who will advance to the NJCAA Division I Championship in Tucson, Arizona, May 7-11. 

ASA College Miami won the final match against Broward to take the Region 8 Championship, thus awarding the state championship trophy to the Seahawks. 

ASA Miami will join Broward in Arizona along with St. Petersburg College. 

Broward's Marlena Hall was named FCSAA Coach of the Year after winning the first state championship during her tenure with the Seahawks. It will be Broward's third trip to nationals under Hall (2012, 2015, 2017).

Bianca Vitale received Number Four Singles Champion/FCSAA All-State honors. Vitale defeated Maria Zubkova of State College of Florida in the semifinals (6-0, 6-1) and battled to a three-set victory over Jeung Yang of ASA College in the finals (4-6, 6-4, 7-5).

Kaeli Smashey was named Number Five Singles Runners-up/FCSAA All-State. Smashey defeated Maria Mesa Montoya of St. Petersburg College in the semifinals (6-1, 6-3) before falling to Lisa Khamassi of ASA College in the finals (6-4, 7-5).

Isidora Petkovic received Number Six Singles Runners-up/FCSAA All-State honors. Petkovic defeated Ava Schultz of State College of Florida in the semifinals (6-1, 6-0) and lost to Ghita Nassik of ASA College in the finals (6-3, 6-1).

Vitale and Smashey received Number Two Doubles Runners-up award after defeating Naomi Villa and Valentina Polonyi in the quarterfinals (6-1, 6-0), and topping Satomi Momose and Anastasha Worlds in the semifinals (6-4, 6-4) before falling to Dugleisy Linarez and Jeung Yang in the finals (6-4, 3-6, 6-4).

Petkovic and Anastasiia Goncharova were awarded Number Three Doubles Runners-up after defeating Nicole Sheler and Samantha Little of Hillsborough Community College in the semifinals 6-1, 6-1 before losing to Sarah Wardenburg and Lisa Khamassi of ASA College (7-5, retired).

For a complete recap of the women's tennis state tournament, visit the championship events section.