KALILA Morris from Campion College was granted a full tennis scholarship as a result of her outstanding performance at the Russell Tennis Academy (RTA) Super Series that got under way jointly at Campion College and Hillel Academy Courts recently.

This was the first of six Super Series events being played at the two venues. It had 60 players from schools in the Corporate Area, including prep schools, competing in six different age group categories, from 16 and under to six and under.

Rayne Russell, the director of RTA, said the Super Series is sanctioned by Tennis Jamaica, the governing body of the sport. He added that the RTA is committed to expanding the junior development programme by the introduction of over 15 tennis events this year, which have been added to Tennis Jamaica’s calendar.

Russell was pleased with the quality of tennis played over the two-day event.

“This was the first of six Super Series tennis events launched by the Russell Tennis Academy that is geared to boosting the quality of tennis from the grassroots level to elite junior players islandwide.”

He announced RTA’s awarding of the tennis scholarship to 13-year-old Morris for the duration of her time at Campion College.

He said he has been watching Morris’s progress for some time and believes that she has tremendous potential to transition into a top junior player and be awarded a college tennis scholarship.

“This is the first time we are giving a player a full-time tennis scholarship, as not only does she love the sport, but she is also a very committed person,” he explained.

Morris won the girls’ 16 and under singles final in a very close match over Eva Pinchas where she came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 10-2 in the super tie-breaker.

Morris was pleased, excited and very surprised to have been awarded a full tennis scholarship and is looking towards developing her skills.

“I began playing tennis at nine years old at Mona Heights Primary School but could only play once a week. At Campion College, I am able to play and train at least four times a week because there are more courts and more good players at the school,” she said.

Thomas Plummer has been the private coach of Morris since grade four at the Mona Primary, while Russell has been the head coach for all the players attending Campion College.

Meanwhile, the boys’ 16 and under singles final was won by Alex Cephas from Campion College. He defeated Zachary Umrao, also from Campion, in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

Joel Villoria from Hillel Academy won the boys’ 14 and under singles final by beating Etham Moore from Campion 6-4, 6-2. Dariel Green from Campion was the winner of the boys’ 12 and under when he defeated Alexander Crawford from Hillel three wins to two wins.

Cruz Kow from St Hugh’s Prep defeated Nathan Storms from Hillel to capture the boys’ 10 and under singles final with three wins. Savannah Taylor was the winner of the girls’ 10 and under singles final when she beat Arlanne James from Hillel Academy with three wins.

David McConnell from Hillel captured the boys’ eight and under singles title with a win over Matthew Heaven from Hopefield Prep in the final 12-9 points.

Vincent Buekenhout from Hillel won the six and under boys’ singles final by beating Raymond Seaga from Hillel 12-8 points, while Azarah Daniels from Mona Prep beat Zahra Philbert from Hillel to win the girls’ six and under final 3-1.

Meanwhile, the second in the RTA Super Series is to be held on Saturday, March 9.