Estrada, Burrall head to ITA Oracle Cup

Mississippi Gulf Coast's women's doubles team of Paulina Estrada and Katie Burrall head to Surprise, Ariz., this week for the ITA Oracle Cup.

The Small College Nationals has been renamed this year, and this appearance will extend the streak of the school appearing at the premier event of the fall.

"It means a lot because it's the fourth year in a row we've been on the national state in the fall," Gulf Coast coach Gary Bourgeois said. "It's big for the program. It's big for recruiting because players know they can come here and get on the national stage twice, once in the fall and once in the spring."

Estrada and Burrall will play State College of Florida's Maria Medina and Iulia Sergheeva, the No. 2 seed, on Thursday at 2 p.m. Central. Eight teams are competing in the event, with each team guaranteed three matches.

Estrada competed in the singles and doubles last year, while Burrall is a transfer from Northwest.

"This will be a big boost in her confidence," Bourgeois said. "This is why she came here, to get on this stage. We're glad she'll have that opportunity to test her skills against some of the best players in the nation. I think it will really help her with her confidence going into the spring season, because Paulina has been there before."

He said it's also an opportunity for them to be scouted by four-year schools. There will be NCAA Division II and II schools competing, along with NAIA players, with other coaches expected to be on hand.

The event will be streamed online via a subscription service at http://live.flotennis.com/#/event/1680-2016-ita-oracle-cup.

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