GATOR MEN'S TENNIS WINS AT GEORGIA FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1968

Friday, April 14

Athens, GA

5:00 PM

Florida Gators

Georgia

GATOR MEN'S TENNIS WINS AT GEORGIA FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1968

Friday, April 14, 2000 | Men's Tennis

By: Jeff Kamis

ATHENS, Ga. - The third-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team (20-3, 9-1 SEC) moved within one victory of its first SEC title since 1994 with a 6-1 victory over 32^nd-ranked Georgia (12-9, 6-4) Friday at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts. The match had to be moved indoors due to inclement weather.

Florida can claim a share of the SEC title with a victory in its final match, this Sunday at Vanderbilt at 1:00 p.m. ET. The win marked Florida's first win in Athens since 1968, breaking a string of 16 consecutive losses to the Bulldogs at Georgia. Florida also captured its second straight win over Georgia after the Bulldogs had won 34 meetings in a row prior to UF's 5-2 win last season in Gainesville.

"This was a great win for us," said Gator head coach Ian Duvenhage. "Georgia is a very dangerous team and for us to come back this way after a traumatic loss Wednesday against Tennessee is obviously a testament to our players."

The Gators won a tight battle in doubles to capture the opening point. Senior Justin O'Neal and sophomore Olivier Levant remained unbeaten in SEC play at 8-0 with an 8-6 victory at number two doubles, but the point came down to tiebreakers at number one and number three. The Gators prevailed in both, with UF's sixth-ranked team of juniors Jeff Morrison and Nathan Overholser downing Georgia's 16^th-ranked duo of Matias Boeker and Travis Parrott 9-8 (7-5) for their 13^th consecutive victory at number one. Junior Marcos Asse and Dylan Mann knocked off Nicolas Boeker and Brandon Wagner 9-8 (9-7) at number three to up their dual record to 7-1.

Florida carried the momentum into singles, led by Levant, who won for the fifth time in his last six matches with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Parrott at number four. Morrison, who is ranked fourth nationally, ran his SEC record to 9-1 with his sixth consecutive victory overall, 6-2, 6-2 over 22^nd-ranked Matias Boeker at number one. Ninth-ranked O'Neal earned his team-leading sixth clinching win of the year with a 6-0, 6-2 win over 57^th-ranked Adam Seri at number two. With the victory, O'Neal moved into fourth place on UF's single-season chart with his team-high 32^nd singles win of the year. Other singles winners for UF included Mann at number five, his eighth win in his last nine matches, and freshman Troy Hahn at number six.

No. 3 FLORIDA (20-3, 9-1) 6
No. 32 Georgia (12-9, 6-4 SEC) 1
Friday, April 14, 2000
Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts, Athens, Ga.

DOUBLES
No. 1 – Jeff Morrison-Nathan Overholser (UF) d. Matias Boeker-Travis Parrott (UG) 9-8 (5)
No. 2 – Olivier Levant-Justin O'Neal (UF) d. Lesley Joseph-Adam Seri (UG) 8-6
No. 3 – Marcos Asse-Dylan Mann (UF) d. Nicolas Boeker-Brandon Wagner (UG) 9-8 (7)

SINGLES
No. 1 – Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Matias Boeker (UG) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – Justin O'Neal (UF) d. Adam Seri (UG) 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 – Lesley Joseph (UG) d. Nathan Overholser (UF) 6-4, 7-5
No. 4 – Olivier Levant (UF) d. Travis Parrott (UG) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 – Dylan Mann (UF) d. Brandon Wagner (UG) 7-6 (3), 6-3
No. 6 – Troy Hahn (UF) d. Nicolas Boeker (UG) 6-3, 6-2