Gator Country

Gators senior Lauren Embree was selected for the second consecutive year to compete in the Master’U BNP Paribas. / Gator Country file photo by Saj Guevara

The University of Florida’s Lauren Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) was selected for the second consecutive year to represent the United States at the 2012 Master'U BNP Paribas, a five-day team competition featuring international collegiate athletes that will be held from Dec. 6 through 9 in Aix-en-Provence, France.

The seventh annual Master’U BNP Paribas features a unique format that combines men’s and women’s matches to determine a winner in a best-of-seven format.  Two men’s and two women’s singles matches will be played along with one men’s and women’s doubles match in addition to a mixed doubles match. Eight nations, consisting of Belgium, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia and the United States, with college and university players from around the world, will be competing for the title.

The USTA announced the United States’ field of players of three men and three women. Representing the American women along with Embree will be two time ITA All-American Jacqueline Cako of Arizona State as well as ITA All-American and ITA National Player to Watch Zoë Scandalis of USC.

Jenkins, Embree and Cako are the only returning players from last year’s United States Master’U championship team that defeated France, 4-3 in the final.  The United States has won two of the last three Master’U BNP Paribas titles.

Embree captured her first collegiate Grand Slam title when she won the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships in October and earned the No. 1 seed in the National Indoor Championships where she advanced to the round of 16. The Gator senior, who compiled a 6-1 record during the fall season and owns a 97-14 career singles record, is a four-time All-American, the 2010 and 2012 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year of the 2011 & 2012 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading the Gators to the NCAA Team title both years.

Greg Patton of Boise State returns to coach the United States team and will be joined by Cal head women’s tennis coach Amanda Augustus.

Courtesy of UF Communications

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