Top girls juniors set to compete in USTA event at Sea Pines

Briana Crowley and Kylie Collins, both students at Smith-Stearns Tennis Academy, hold the No.1 seeds on home turf for for the USTA National Selection tournament that gets underway Saturday at the Sea Pines Racquet Club.

The three-day event features several of the nation’s top players in the 16-and-under and 14-and-under divisions, competing in 30-player draws that will conclude with finals on Monday. The 60 invitees come to Hilton Head Island from 17 different states.

Crowley comes to the event off a highly successful summer that lifted her to No.9 in the 16s rankings. The Indiana native won the USTA National Clay Courts in July and finishing second at the USTA National Doubles a month later with fellow Smith-Stearns pupil Ali DeSpain.

Collins, who lives in Savannah, is ranked 18th among the girls’ 14s. She is one of two Lowcountry players seeded in that division, along with fellow Smith-Stearns pupil Mary Grace Armistead at No.4.

Other locals competing this weekend are Hilton Head Island’s Sayda Hernandez in the 14s draw, with fellow islanders Madison Dillon and Anna Letto in the 16s.

This story was originally published November 5, 2016 at 12:53 AM with the headline "Top girls juniors set to compete in USTA event at Sea Pines."