GATOR MEN'S TENNIS TEAM DOWNS ALABAMA, 6-1

Friday, April 7

Tuscaloosa, AL

2:00 PM

Florida Gators

Alabama

GATOR MEN'S TENNIS TEAM DOWNS ALABAMA, 6-1

Friday, April 7, 2000 | Men's Tennis

By: Jeff Kamis

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The second-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team (18-2, 7-0 SEC) won its 10^th straight match, downing Alabama (5-13, 2-6), 6-1, Friday afternoon at the Varsity Courts.

The Gators, who remain the only undefeated team in the league at 7-0, are off to an 18-2 overall start, their best since the 1975 team opened with a 19-1 mark.

Senior Justin O'Neal became Florida's all-time leader in doubles victories as the Gators swept the opening point. O'Neal and sophomore Olivier Levant won 8-4 at number two as O'Neal passed former Gator Shawn Taylor (81 doubles wins from 1984-87) to claim his 82^nd career doubles victory. The win also moved O'Neal into a tie with Mark Merklein for the most overall victories at Florida with his 190^th career win (108 singles, 82 doubles). Juniors Jeff Morrison and Nathan Overholser, who are ranked 17^th in the nation, posted an 8-6 victory over Alabama's 26^th-ranked team of Maxim Belski and Francisco Rodriguez at number one for their 10^th consecutive win. Morrison's doubles win was the 69^th of his career, tying him with former Gator Amr El Sawaf (1995-99) for fifth all-time at Florida. Junior Marcos Asse and senior Dylan Mann finished off the sweep with an 8-4 win at number three.

Florida carried the momentum into singles play, winning the first set in all six matches. Overholser knocked off Susheel Narla, 6-4, 6-3 at number three and Levant downed Chris McRae, 6-1, 6-3 at number four, his third straight win. Morrison, ranked fifth in singles, avenged a loss at last year's SEC Tournament to 30^th-ranked Rodriguez, clinching the Gator win with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at number one for his third consecutive victory. With the win, Morrison tied former Gator and current UF assistant coach Damon Henkel for third place on UF's all-time chart with 102 career singles victories. Mann added a three-set win at number five for his sixth win in a row and Adcock won at number six for his fourth straight win. O'Neal, who is ranked 11^th, had his 13-match winning streak snapped as he was upset by Alabama's 54^th-ranked Belski at number two singles in three sets.

Florida closes out its two-match road trip this Sunday, April 9 when it faces Arkansas at 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. ET) in Fayetteville.

No. 2 FLORIDA (18-2, 7-0) 6
Alabama (5-13, 2-6) 1
Friday, April 7, 2000
Varsity Courts, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

DOUBLES
No. 1 – Jeff Morrison-Nathan Overholser (UF) d. Maxim Belski-Francisco Rodriguez (UA) 8-6
No. 2 – Olivier Levant-Justin O'Neal (UF) d. Chris McRae-Susheel Narla (UA) 8-4
No. 3 –Marcos Asse-Dylan Mann (UF) d. William Boyles-Brian Isern (UA) 8-4

SINGLES
No. 1 – Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Francisco Rodriguez (UA) 6-1, 7-5
No. 2 – Maxim Belski (UA) d. Justin O'Neal (UF) 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 – Nathan Overholser (UF) d. Susheel Narla (UA) 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 – Olivier Levant (UF) d. Chris McRae (UA) 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 – Dylan Mann (UF) d. Brian Isern (UA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
No. 6 – Trey Adcock (UF) d. William Boyles (UA) 7-5, 6-4