Florida Gators

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 16 University of Florida men's tennis team won a 4-3 thriller over No.24 Mississippi State on Friday night in Starkville. Senior Gordon Watson clinched the match with a three set, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 win on court five to give the Gators a 5-1 record in SEC play.   

After dropping the doubles point, Florida quickly got the point back on court six with freshman McClain Kessler defeating Trevor Foshey, 6-3, 6-0. Mississippi State would then put the Gators on the brink of defeat with two three-set wins on courts three and four.

Not to be defeated, the Orange and Blue upperclassmen took over the match. Junior Elliott Orkin would take the first set from Rishab Agarway, 6-4. The Bulldog responded in the second set with a 6-3 win of his own. Orkin would come right back in the third set to win 6-3 and bring the match to 3-2. Almost simultaneously, fellow-captain, Diego Hidalgo, finished off his comeback against No. 22 Mate Cutura, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The match would come down to the senior Watson and Stajinja Rakic on court five. The Gator won the first set, 7-5. Rakic would take a 7-5 set of his own in the second. The third would come to a tie at 3-all, only to see Watson take the next three games and clinch the match for the Orange and Blue.

Next up, Florida takes on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Volunteer Assistant Coach Scott Perelman
On the match victory tonight…
"To win on the road in the SEC is a tough task. Mississippi State had a nice crowd and played hard. We are so proud of our guys! Gordon Watson put us on his back and brought us home. He played his best tennis at the end of the match. We are all very happy for him. Tonight was a total team effort. We will enjoy the victory tonight and then prepare for a tough Alabama team on Sunday. Go Gators!"
 
Final Results
#16 Florida 4, #24 Mississippi State 3
Doubles-Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

1. Cutura/Hunter (MSU) def. #1 Hidalgo/Watson (UF) 6-4
2. Borges/Braun (MSU) def. #52 Lipman/Orkin (UF) 6-1
3. Perez/Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Foshey/Rakic (MSU) 6-1

Singles-Order of Finish: 6, 3, 4, 1, 2, 5*

1. #24 Diego Hidalgo (UF) def. #22 Mate Cutura (MSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. #29 Elliott Orkin (UF) def. #80 Rishab Agarwal (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Nuno Borges (MSU) def. #122 Alfredo Perez (UF) 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Niclas Braun (MSU)  def. #71 Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) 6-4, 0-6, 6-3
5. Gordon Watson (UF) def. Stahinja Rakic (MSU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
6. McClain Kessler (UF) def. Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-3, 6-0

Attendance: 183

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