Gators Top Host Wisconsin on Day 1 at ITA National Team Indoor Championship

Friday, February 9

Madison, WI

7:30 pm

Florida Gators

Wisconsin

Peggy Porter was one of the players Coach Thornqvist specifically praised after the match.

Gators Top Host Wisconsin on Day 1 at ITA National Team Indoor Championship

Friday, February 9, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Updated Team Draw Final Scores (PDF)

Florida posted a 5-0 victory to advance to the round of eight

By: Kathy Cafazzo

MADISON, WI – Less than 48 hours ago, Florida dropped a heartbreaking decision. On Friday evening, the Gators found a way to overcome that disappointment and posted an impressive 5-0 response against Wisconsin in the opening round of 2018 ITA National Indoor Team Championship held at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on the University of Wisconsin campus.

The Badgers, who are playing host to the national four-day event and received an automatic berth into the 16-team field, entered Friday's match with a 6-0 record and were off to their best start in more than 30 years.

Florida made quick work in doubles for a 1-0 lead in the team scoring.

On the singles court, senior Peggy Porter raced out and provided a 6-0, 6-0 victory for a 2-0 Florida lead.

Senior Josie Kuhlman, whose three-set match was the deciding outcome on Wednesday at Oklahoma State, was second off the court with a 6-2, 6-0 victory that gave Florida a 3-0 lead.

Freshmen Victoria Emma and McCartney Kessler were both playing match point on their respective courts and both finished within seconds to provide the fourth and fifth points and secure the Gator's dual match sweep.

What's Next for the Gators

Florida will play top-ranked and No. 1-seed Vanderbilt in the round of eight on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT.

Quotes from the Gators - Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
On the match:
"I was so curious to see how we would respond after the tight loss we had. I was really pleased. I thought the team handled Wednesday night really well. We looked ready when we arrived in Wisconsin yesterday and certainly our play today showed.

"I was particularly pleased to see the play of Peggy Porter and Victoria Emma. They looked like pros today in how they managed themselves, made adjustments and their ball tolerance. That actually goes for the entire lineup. We played big when it warranted and we held onto the ball when we had to. I was just really pleased with how we competed and ultimately performed today."

On playing either No. 1 Vanderbilt or Wake Forest in the next round:
"No matter who we play tomorrow, our goal is to be a better team every time we take the court. It doesn't matter who's on the other side of the net, whether it's a high seeded team or not, we're going to try and improve every time we play. I'm really proud of our grit and determination. We keep getting better."

Gators vs. Badgers: The Updated Series

Florida leads the all-time series, 8-0
Location: UF at home: 3-0; away: 4-0; neutral: 1-0
At the National Team Indoors: UF 3-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 20, 1997, Florida won 5-0 (first round of the ITA National Team Indoors hosted by Wisconsin)

2018 ITA National Team Indoor Championships
Nielsen Tennis Stadium * Madison, Wis.
Friday, February 09, 2018

First Round Matches

(2) Georgia def. Texas, 4-2
(7) Duke def. South Carolina, 4-0
(6) Texas Tech def. UCLA, 4-2
(3) North Carolina def. Ole Miss, 4-2
(4) Pepperdine def. Auburn, 4-2
(5) Georgia Tech def. Michigan, 4-2
(8) Florida def. Wisconsin, 5-0
(1) Vanderbilt def. Wake Forest, 4-0

Florida's Individual Results

Doubles (order of finish: 2, 1)
No. 1: Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma (FLA) def. Kelsey Grambeau/Maryann Rompf (WISC) 6-4*
No. 2: Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler (FLA) def. Melissa Pick/Alexis Keberle (WISC) 6-1
No. 3: Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz (FLA) vs. Christina Zordani/Michelle Linden (WISC) 4-5, unfinished

Singles (order of finish: 5, 2, 3*, 4)
No. 1: Anna Danilina (FLA) vs. Alexis Keberle (WISC) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
No. 2: Josie Kuhlman (FLA) vs. Maryann Rompf (WISC) 6-2, 6-0
No. 3: Victoria Emma (FLA) vs. Kelsey Grambeau (WISC) 6-3, 6-2*
No. 4: McCartney Kessler (FLA) vs. Melissa Pick (WISC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5: Peggy Porter (FLA) vs. Michelle Linden (WISC) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Katie Kubicz (FLA) vs. Christina Zordani (WISC) 7-6 (1), 2-0, unfinished
Records: Florida 3-2; Wisconsin 6-1

About the National Indoors

Feb. 9-12 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin
Teams qualified for the Indoors by winning their respective regional ITA Kickoff Weekends
16 teams (15 qualified teams, with the host team getting direct entry)
Wisconsin has hosted this event 24 times

Gators at Indoors

The Gators have won the National Team Indoor Championships seven times in program history, with the most recent win being last year

Catch the Action

Official Tournament website: http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITANationalChampionships/DIWomensTeamIndoors.htm
Live scoring: http://scores.tennisticker.de/usa/ita/wi2018/lp.html?lid=168
- Fans can also access scores on their phone by downloading the free Tennis-Ticker app.
Live Video: http://uwbadgers.com/sports/2016/11/1/tennis-video-streams.aspx?id=1239
- Live video is being provided by PlaySight. There won't be streams on all 12 courts. The breakdown for all matches except for the final will be FOUR live streaming courts for one match, and TWO live streaming courts for the second match.