Florida Gators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With the Southeastern Conference regular-season title on the line, Florida head coach Roland Thornqvist was disappointed with his team's effort in a 4-2 loss at No. 5 Vanderbilt at Currey Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.
 
The top-ranked Gators entered Sunday's final regular-season match tied with No. 2 Georgia and the Commodores with an 11-1 SEC record. The Bulldogs were still playing Texas A&M at the time of this release, so Vandy is either the SEC outright champion, or co-champion.
 
Florida entered the match against Vanderbilt having won the doubles point in 20 of 22 matches, including in each of the last eight matches. The Commodores, however, snapped that run after earning wins on courts one and three.
 
The teams then split first set winners on the six singles courts and that's all the Commodores would need, earning victories on the three courts where they captured the initial frame.
 
Brooke Austin and Ingrid Neel provided straight-set singles victories for Florida.
 
Postmatch with UF Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
"Vanderbilt played a championship-caliber match today. It was like a real SEC final and they played with better courage than we had in doubles. I thought they were stronger than we were in singles, also.
 
"I told our players that I hope it really motivates us for next week (SEC Tournament) because for such a big match, it was disappointing that we couldn't raise our level better than this. I think all our players agreed.
 
"I'm hoping that maybe this turns into a blessing in disguise so we have a little more of an edge to us in the postseason."
 
Florida vs. Vanderbilt: The Series

• 54-Match Series: UF leads 48-6 (UF at home: 21-0; away: 14-4; neutral: 13-2)
• Last Meeting: UF won 4-2 in Gainesville, March 12, 2016
• Last Vandy Win: 4-3 on May 17, 2015 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship; the Commodores went on to win the national title that season

 
Gators at a Glance

• Florida had its eight-match win streak halted.
• The Gators lost the doubles point for just the third time this year.

 
Streaking Along

• Brooke Austin won her 13th consecutive singles match
• Josie Kuhlman had her nine-match singles win streak snapped
• Belinda Woolcock had her six-match singles win streak snapped
• Doubles team of Anna Danilina and Ingrid Neel had their seven-match win streak snapped
• Doubles team of Josie Kuhlman and Belinda Woolcock had their 12-match win streak snapped

 
Women's College Tennis
No. 1 Florida at No. 5 Vanderbilt
Currey Tennis Center * Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
 
Final: Vanderbilt 4, Florida 2
 
Doubles (order of finish: 2, 1, 3)
1. #5 Astra Sharma/Emily Smith, VU d. #19 Anna Danilina/Ingrid Neel, UF 6-4
2. #18 Brooke Austin/Kourtney Keegan, UF d. Emma Kurtz/Sydney Campbell, VU, 6-2
3. Christina Rosca/Fernanda Contreras, VU d. Belinda Woolcock/Josie Kuhlman, UF 6-4*
Singles (order of finish: 5, 6, 1, 3, 2*)
1. #4 Astra Sharma, VU d. #7 Belinda Woolcock, UF 6-2, 6-4
2. #17 Sydney Campbell, VU d. #14 Josie Kuhlman, UF 7-6, 6-4*
3. #30 Ingrid Neel, UF d. #98 Christina Rosca, VU 6-0, 7-5
4. #37 Anna Danilina, UF vs. Emma Kurtz, VU 6-3, 6-6 DNF
5. Brooke Austin, UF d. Georgina Sellyn, VU 6-4, 6-4
6. #91 Fernanda Contreras, VU d. #40 Kourtney Keegan, UF 6-2, 6-3
Records: Florida 21-2, 11-2 SEC; Vanderbilt 17-5, 12-1 SEC
 
 
What's Next for the Gators

• What: The SEC Tournament
• When: April 19-23
• Where: Currey Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn.
• Extra: UF has already secured a double-round bye for the SEC Tournament and will play its first match on Friday, April 21

 
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube |
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators