No. 3 Florida completes perfect weekend after sweeping Louisiana-Monroe

Sunday, January 28

Gainesville, FL

8 am

Florida Gators

University of Louisiana at Monroe

No. 3 Florida completes perfect weekend after sweeping Louisiana-Monroe

Sunday, January 28, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Kelly Shipp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators were up early Sunday morning with just the stadium lights illuminating the courts for their match against Louisiana-Monroe in the ITA Kick-Off Regional Championship. Florida started slowly in doubles play with two of the three courts falling behind early, but as the sun began to rise, so did Florida.

The third-ranked Florida women's tennis team found their groove midway through their doubles matches. The No. 1 duo of Anna Danilina and Victoria Emma cruised to an easy 6-2 victory that gave Florida the advantage in doubles. The Gators then clinched the point at No. 2 doubles when Josie Kuhlman and McCartney Kessler took their match by a score of 6-3.

The pace for singles was quick and steady. Florida earned two points back-to-back at No. 2 and No. 6 singles. Josie Kuhlman picked up the first point in singles with a 6-1, 6-2 win and just seconds after her match went final, Katie Kubicz earned the Gators third point of the morning with 6-1, 6-1 win. Florida's clincher came at the No. 4 spot as freshman McCartney Kessler continued the impressive start to her Gator career with a 6-3, 6-1 decision.

Quoting Coach Thornqvist
On starting slowly in doubles but recovering
"Our format forces us to start out well and both days I think the first 10 minutes we did not, but we were good enough to play our way out of those holes. One of the reasons I think we are able to play our way back into the doubles matches is our communication. Our players do a really good job of talking and staying connected and figure stuff out during the match."

On the freshman during the ITA Kick-Off Weekend
"I think they got better from the first point to the last. It's not easy to put on this jersey for the first time, but they are great competitors, great in practice and we are starting to see some really good tennis from them."

Quoting Emma
On having Anna Danilina as her doubles partner
"It's great having her as a partner. I've always played with not so aggressive partners so I've always had to be the leader, but it's nice to have a partner that plays a very similar style as I do because I like a really fast doubles. When I'm nervous she can call the play or if I'm feeling really good and since we know each other's game really well I can say what I think is best. She really helps me with nervous, especially this past weekend."

Match Results
Doubles
#1 – Anna Danilina / Victoria Emma (UF) def. Stefana Andrei / Karolina Snita (ULM) – 6-2
#2 – Josie Kuhlman / McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Madalina Grigoriu / Teodora Radu (ULM) – 6-3
#3 – Peggy Porter / Katie Kubicz (UF) vs Karolina Silwanowicz / Florencia Salerno (ULM) – DNF, 4-5
Florida won Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 1, 2
Singles
#1 – Anna Danilina (UF) vs Stefana Andrei (ULM) – DNF, 6-2, 4-4
#2 – Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Teodora Radu (ULM) – 6-1, 6-2
#3 – Victoria Emma (UF) vs Karolina Snita (ULM) – DNF, 7-5, 2-0
#4 – McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Karolina Silwanowicz (ULM) – 6-3, 6-1*
#5 – Peggy Porter (UF) vs Madalina Grigoriu (ULM) – DNF, 6-1, 4-1
#6 – Katie Kubicz (UF) def. Florencia Salerno (ULM) – 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4*
*Clincher

Up Next
No. 3 Florida will be under the bright lights of the United State Tennis Association National Campus when they travel to Orlando on Saturday, Feb. 3 to compete in the nationally televised College Match Day event. The Gators will take on Florida State at 7 p.m. as part of the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown.