Box Score ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of the South wrapped up the 2023 season with a pair of national championships. After winning the ITA Cup Division III national championship in the fall, the duo took down Babson College's Matia Cristiani and Olivia Soffer, 6-4, 6-2, in the Doubles National Championship at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships, Monday from the USTA National Campus on Team USA Court No. 1.
It is the first national individual championship for the University of the South women's tennis. For the University of the South, it is the second national individual championship.
The Beavers (23-4) and Tigers went back-and-forth in the first set. Tied at four, Sewanee won the final two games to secure the first set, 6-4.
In the second set, Despriet and Petty (22-6) were feeling it, as they stormed out to a 3-0 lead. However, the Beavers had one last rally, as they cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the next game, despite issues at the serve, the Purple and White restored order and made it a 4-2 lead.
After not allowing a rally to the opposition to make it 5-2, the Tigers sensed the championship was inching closer to coming to the mountain. Storming out to a 40, love lead in the final game, an ace by Despriet at the serve clinched the national championship for the Tigers.
"It's pretty amazing. You've been doing this a long time and it's something you always dream of. My whole emphasis to them was you have to understand that no matter what happens, this is so special, so special. And you just have to relish every moment that you've been here," said head coach
Conchie Shackelford.
Winning the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Cup in the fall, this is the second national championship the duo has captured this season. Also winning the ITA Regional Championship, they finish a perfect 12-0 in tournament play.
"It's just so surreal. I think this was a special moment. Even from yesterday, making history with Sewanee Tennis and going into today, just trying to stay calm, keep each other hyped, but also ease our nerves a little bit. I think we just wanted to enjoy the day and bring it home for our school and for our coaches," said Petty.
"I think going into it we really didn't know what to expect. We knew they were going to be solid, so we had to go in with a lot of energy and play the best we could," said Despriet.
Ranked the top doubles team in the country all season, the team finished the 2022-23 with a 22-6 record as a team. Petty, a junior from Dallas, Texas, finishes doubles play with 24 wins, while Despriet, a sophomore from Cumming, Ga., tallied 23 victories.
Brooke Despriet and
Katherine Petty join Heather Stone C'00 (track and field) as the only individual national champions in the history of the University of the South.
See the final point, thanks to NCAA Division III on the tweet.
POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS
Hear from head coach
Conchie Shackelford on the national championship for the University of the South.
Hear from the two that won it all,
Brooke Despriet and
Katherine Petty.
Click on the links above for the photo gallery and a final bracket.
As a team, the University of the South finished with a 19-6 overall record and finished in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships in 2023.
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