SEATTLE, Wash. –– Seniors Vasco Valverde and Nils Skajaa played dominant tennis in Monday's doubles title to bring an ITA Northwest Regional trophy back to the Hilltop. 

Playing in their fifth match in four days, Valverde and Skajaa squared off against Maciek Romanowicz and Nolan Paige of Stanford for a chance to defend USF's 2014 ITA Northwest Regional title that Skajaa and 2015 graduate Bernardo Saraiva won last year. The Dons duo did just that. Valverde and Skajaa make quick work of the Cardinal in the first set, winning 6-2 to put themselves one set away from a tournament win. Ahead 1-0 in the match, Valverde and Skajaa continued to build on their momentum and took the second set 6-2 to clinch the match and earn the doubles title in the 53-team draw.

"Nils and Vasco showed impressive consistency and toughness mentally throughout the entire regional over tough competition," said head mens tennis coach Pablo Pires de Almeida. "Their level of tennis improved with every match and they earned the victory handling the moment with great poise."

The Dons will finish off its fall schedule this weekend at the Pacific Invitational in Stockton. Matches will begin on Friday, Oct. 30 and conclude on Sunday, Nov. 1.  


ITA Northwest Regional Doubles Championship
Skajaa/Valverde (USF) def. Romanowicz/Paige (Stanford) 6-2, 6-2