SAN MARCOS, Texas- Rising sophomore Maria Lora competed in the Interligas tennis tournament and won the 18 female category, and led the Valle team to a second-place finish.

One of the most important tournaments in Colombia, Interligas, consists of male and female categories broken down into age groups of 12, 14, 16 and 18. There is also a team aspect to Interligas, the best players in Colombia represent the states, or departments, that they are from with the teams consisting of three females and three males. 

Lora represented Team Valle since she is from Valle del Cauca, a department in southwestern Colombia. This was her third time competing in the Interligas tournament and it would have been her fifth if it was not for COVID-19. 

“It was my last tournament as a junior and I love the tournament,” Lora said. “I was also the co-captain for the team with another friend and that was amazing.”

There are two draws in the tournament, A and B, with A being the tougher one and where Lora and Team Valle competed. 

After Lora won the 18 female category, Team Valle was in second sitting 16 points behind first place.

In doubles, Lora put up a 6-3, 6-3 performance against third-place Antioquia, and won the final against Bogotá 2-6, 7-6 (3), 10-5. 

Even with Lora’s department having the most wins in three categories with 244 points, the capital of Colombia, Team Bogotá, took home first with 260 points.