Gators Drop Another Thriller in Wisconsin

Sunday, February 11

Madison, WI

4:30 pm

Florida Gators

Georgia Tech

McCartney Kessler, forehand follow through

McCartney Kessler produced Florida's first individual win on Sunday.

Gators Drop Another Thriller in Wisconsin

Sunday, February 11, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Final Scores (PDF)

Florida lost to No. 7 Georgia Tech, 4-2

By: Kathy Cafazzo

MADISON, WI – The Gators lost to No. 7 Georgia Tech, 4-2, in their final match at the 2018 ITA National Indoor Team Championship held at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus Sunday.

Florida dropped the doubles point and fell behind early in singles action which put additional pressure on a few individual matches.

Georgia Tech quickly captured the win on court six for a 2-0 lead and shortly afterwards claimed court five for a 3-0 advantage.

Florida would have to win the remaining matches on court in order to capture the team victory.

Freshman McCartney Kessler got the Gators on the board with a 6-4, 6-1 victory on court four. There were three consecutive breaks midway through the first set of Kellser's match, with the Gator rookie coming out on top with a break in the seventh game and held for 5-3 en route to taking the first frame. She then cruised in the second to inch Florida closer, 3-1.

Senior Josie Kuhlman was next off the court with a 7-5, 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot, as the Gators were down 3-2.

Senior Anna Danilina was at the beginning of her third set and freshman Victoria Emma also slugging out a third set.

Danilina earned a break for a 4-2 lead with the serve in the third, but couldn't hold and No. 24 Paige Hourigan was able to get the final set back on-serve until the 11th game, where she broke the Gator senior and then held to win the clinching match, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Emma's match against No. 58 Ida Jarlskog was on-serve late when play was halted and Emma serving at 6-4, 1-6, 4-5.

Rough Road

Florida has opened this long road stretch with a 1-4 record.
The Gators still have four road matches remaining before returning to the friendly confines of the Ring Tennis Complex on March 9.

What's Next for the Gators

Florida continues its long road trip next heading West to play Saint Mary's in Moraga, California, on February 23 before playing Stanford the following day.

2018 ITA National Team Indoor Championships
Nielsen Tennis Stadium * Madison, Wis.
Sunday, February 11, 2018

Final: #7 (5-seed) Georgia Tech def. #3 (8-seed) Florida 4-2

Florida's Individual Results

Doubles (order of finish: 2, 3, 1*)
No. 1: #3 Paige Hourigan / Kenya Jones (GT) def. Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma (FLA), 6-2*
No. 2: #52 Ida Jarlskog /Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler (FLA), 6-0
No. 3: Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz (FLA) def. Victoria Flores /Nami Otsuka (GT), 6-3

Singles (order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 2, 1*)
No. 1: #24 Paige Hourigan (GT) def. #7 Anna Danilina (FLA) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5*
No. 2: #50 Josie Kuhlman (FLA) def. Johnnise Renaud (GT) 7-5, 6-3
No. 3: McCartney Kessler (FLA) def. Victoria Flores (GT) 6-4, 6-1
No. 4: #96 Victoria Emma (FLA) vs. #58 Ida Jarlskog (GT) 6-4, 1-6, 4-5 DNF
No. 5: Kenya Jones (GT) def. Peggy Porter (FLA) 6-2, 6-2
No. 6: Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Katie Kubicz (FLA) 6-1, 6-2
Records: #3 Florida 3-4; #7 Georgia Tech 5-1

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