Gators Defeat Stanford in 4-3 Thriller

Saturday, February 24

Stanford, CA

3 pm

Florida Gators

Stanford

Josie Kuhlman provided the clinching dual match victory.

Gators Defeat Stanford in 4-3 Thriller

Saturday, February 24, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Senior Josie Kuhlman provided the heroics with a three-set win in the clinching match.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

STANFORD, Calif. – When Florida and Stanford get together in women's tennis, fans can always count on experiencing a high-level of play and an exciting, thrilling finish.

Saturday's match at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium was no exception. Even in spite of the fact that neither team was ranked in the top-30 of the nation poll, there was anticipation leading up to the match.

Neither team's overall record was impressive, as the Gators had defeated Saint Mary's, 4-3, the previous day to even their record to 4-4. The Cardinal were sitting at a modest 4-2. Not quite for the norm for the two national powers.

All that aside, both teams came ready to battle and they did, as Florida senior Josie Kuhlman provided the clinching 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 singles win against Caroline Lampl that secured the Gators' 4-3 victory over Stanford.

Kuhlman was down 5-1 in the first set before rallying to take it 7-5. Lampl jumped out with an early break in the second and that held as the match headed to a deciding third where Kuhlman got the break to go up 4-2 and held for 5-2 en route to her second victory in as many days.

Stanford won the doubles point but Florida wasn't deterred and came out fighting in singles action.

Senior Peggy Porter and freshman McCartney Kessler were off the court quickly in straight-set decisions that gave the Gators a 2-1 lead.

Peggy Porter - postmatch

Gator freshman McCartney Kessler

Stanford evened the match after taking the three-setter on court three, where No. 31 Emily Arbuthnott nudged No. 100 Victoria Emma, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Freshman Katie Kubicz followed with a three-set victory and Florida took a 3-2 lead in the team scoring.

Florida senior Anna Danilina was battling Michaela Gordon on court one and dropped the three-set thriller, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, as the match drew even at 3-all, setting the stage for Kuhlman.

Quotes from the Court:
UF Coach Roland Thornqvist
"During yesterday match against Saint Mary's, we didn't play well in doubles but were able to shake it off and play good singles. Today, we had our chances to win the doubles point and again when we didn't, we shook it off and came out strong in singles. The mark of a tough team – and we're really young in certain aspects, we're starting to play with no fear and that's what we've been looking for all along. Not only are we getting better tactically tennis-wise, we're getting tougher skin and that bodes well for the future."

"(Associate Head Coach) Dave (Balogh) has done a lot of great work with Josie, especially the last two weeks and you have to give Dave and Josie a lot of credit. They worked really well together at the end of today's clinching match."

"Every time we play Stanford, it almost always goes to the wire. They bring out the best in us and I think vice-versa. They are such a classy bunch, too. It's just about tennis. There's never any unsportsmanlike happenings that take place. It's just a good rivalry from that point."

"I've claimed all along that this team is talented and at the beginning of the season we were far away from showing it in a real match, but we're starting to play. Peggy (Porter) is becoming really, really solid in her play. Our freshmen are stepping up their play. We keep getting better and that's our whole goal."

Senior Josie Kuhlman
"This was a really, really good win for us. We've lost several tough matches this year against good teams but we got this one and it's very rewarding."

"There were a lot of ups and downs in my match, a lot of momentum shifts. We were both playing well the whole time. One of us would catch fire at different times. On the last set, I was focusing early to make sure I got a lead because in the previous set I got down early and didn't want that to happen. I just really focused on being aggressive and sticking to my game plan and it worked out well for me. It felt really good to get that win."

"It funny, but I didn't know the team score at all. I just knew that we were playing out all the matches regardless of when a team won it. I was just thinking that I was going to do my best to win. I remember I didn't feel any pressure and just kept going after my shots. She probably felt a little tight at times. It was working well for me and I continued to stay aggressive and going for it.

"Toward the very end, I had a vibe that I was the clinching match because the team was all excited. She double-faulted on duce point (which in college tennis is game and break point simultaneously) so it was a little anticlimactic. It still felt good because I was down 40-30 in that game and had to get that point back."

Did you Know:

Saturday's match represented Florida's seventh consecutive road match.
This was the ninth time Florida had played Stanford on its home court. The Gators' only other win against the Cardinal on their home court was a 4-3 decision in the final of the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Six of the last eight NCAA Championships have been won by these two teams.

What's Next for the Gators

Florida continues its nine-match road swing and begins the Southeastern Conference portion of its season playing at No. 3 Ole Miss on Thursday, before taking on Mississippi State on Saturday.

Match 9 at a Glance
Who: Florida at No. 36 Stanford
Where: Taube Family Tennis Stadium • Stanford, Calif.
When: Saturday, February 24, 2018
Final Score: Florida def. Stanford, 4-3

Doubles (order of finish: 2, 1, 3*)
1. #1 Arbuthnott and Gordon (STAN) vs. #51 Danilina/Emma (UF) 6-2
2. Kessler/Kuhlman (UF) def. Lampl/Yee (STAN) 6-1
3. Higuchi/Shin (STAN) def. Kubicz/Porter (UF) 6-3*

Singles (order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 6, 1, 2*)
1. #19 Michaela Gordon (STAN) d. #9 Anna Danilina (UF) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
2. #46 Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Caroline Lampl (STAN) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2*
3. #31 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) def. #100 Victoria Emma (UF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Janice Shin (STAN) 6-4, 7-5
5. Peggy Porter (UF) def. Emma Higuchi (STAN) 6-4, 6-4
6. Katie Kubicz (UF) def. Kimberly Yee (STAN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Records: Florida 5-4; Stanford 4-3

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