Florida Gators
Texas
Men's Tennis Rallies for 4-3 Win Over No. 12 Texas
Saturday, March 4, 2000 | Men's Tennis
The fourth-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team (8-1, 1-0 SEC) came from behind for the second straight match, rallying to beat 12th-ranked Texas, 4-3, Friday afternoon at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center.
Florida has now won the last two meetings over the Longhorns (6-2) and its 8-1 start ties the 1991 and 1999 Gator teams for the best start under 12th-year head coach Ian Duvenhage. UF's win snaps a nine-match home winning streak for Texas.
"We played pretty well in doubles and lost, but I expected them to be tough in doubles," said Duvenhage. "We just got together and knew that we needed to come back in singles. We did an unbelievable job at one through four singles. They had a great crowd and it was a hostile atmosphere."
Texas claimed the doubles point, just as Mississippi State had done in UF's SEC opener on Wednesday. But just like in Wednesday's victory, the Gators used strong singles play to rally for the win. Junior Jeff Morrison, who is ranked seventh in the latest WingspanBank.com Collegiate Tennis Rankings, gave Florida its first point with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Brandon Hawk at number one singles. Senior Justin O'Neal, who is rated 16th, posted a 6-0, 6-4 win over 28th-ranked Michael Blue at number two for his team-leading 20th singles victory. Sophomore Olivier Levant improved to 4-1 as a Gator with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jorge Haro at number four and junior Nathan Overholser (pictured) clinched the Gator comeback with his second straight win, a 6-2, 6-2 upset of 64th-ranked Nick Crowell at number three singles.
In doubles the Longhorns had used wins by their second-ranked team of Blue and Crowell at number one doubles and 46th-ranked duo of Hawk and Haro at number two to gain the opening point.
Florida's weekend trip to the Lone Star state concludes Sunday, March 5 at 18th-ranked Texas A&M (2-3) with a 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. ET) dual match in College Station. The two teams are meeting for the first time.
| No. 4 FLORIDA (8-1, 1-0 SEC) | 4 |
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| No. 12 Texas (6-2) | 3 |
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Friday, March 3, 2000
Penick-Allison Tennis Center, Austin, Texas
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Michael Blue-Nick Crowell (UT) d. Jeff Morrison-Nathan Overholser (UF) 8-6
No. 2 – Brandon Hawk-Jorge Haro (UT) d. Dylan Mann-Justin O'Neal (UF) 9-8 (3)
No. 3 – Marcos Asse-Matt Behrmann (UF) d. Craig Edmondson-Jean Simon (UT) 9-7
SINGLES
No. 1 – Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Brandon Hawk (UT) 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 – Justin O'Neal (UF) d. Michael Blue (UT) 6-0, 6-4
No. 3 – Nathan Overholser (UF) d. Nick Crowell (UT) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 – Olivier Levant (UF) d. Jorge Haro (UT) 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 – Jean Simon (UT) d. Matt Behrmann (UF) 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – Craig Edmondson (UT) d. Troy Hahn (UF) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
