Florida Gators
Omni Hotels Nat'l Indoor-Day 3
W-Tennis: Gordon Falls; Reyes in Final of SEC
Sunday, November 10, 2002 | Women's Tennis
The University of Florida women's tennis team had members competing in two different tournaments on Saturday, as sophomore Alexis Gordon lost in the semifinals of the Omni Hotels National Indoor Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas, and sophomore Zerene Reyes advanced to the singles final of the SEC Coaches Fall Classic in Peachtree City, Ga.
Gordon, who is ranked 83rd in the country, dropped a hard-fought 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 battle to fourth-ranked Jewel Peterson from Southern California. Gordon became the first Gator to reach the semifinal of this national event since Dawn Buth did in 1996. Last year, Gordon lost in the first round of the main draw and then dropped her opening contest in the consolation draw.
"We have to give a lot of credit to Jewel Peterson because she played a phenomenal tennis match today. Alexis had some chances, but Jewel was too strong at the end," said UF head coach Roland Thornqvist, who is with the Gators in Texas. "I am really proud of Alexis' achievements this weekend. She epitomizes everything that Florida tennis stands for with hard work, a great attitude and a championship heart. I'm so proud of her progress from this time last year, when she lost early in this tournament. Today she was a few points away from playing for the championship. Alexis is exactly the type of player this program needs. She's young, hungry, works hard and is a team player. I couldn't be more proud of her."
At the SEC Coaches Fall Classic, Reyes defeated Vanderbilt's Ashley Schellias 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the Flight A final, where she will face Georgia's Anne Nguyen on Sunday morning for the title.
"Zerene played almost a perfect match today," said UF assistant coach Dave Balogh, who is with the Gators in Georgia. "She moved the ball around from one corner to the other and probably missed just five balls in the entire match."
Reyes later paired with Gator freshman Jennifer Magley in the Flight A doubles draw and reached the final after defeating LSU's Rocio Fantilli and Amanda Mang 9-7, but then lost to Tennessee's Tammy Encina and Sabita Maharaj 8-6 in the final.
Magley received a first-round bye in the consolation singles draw before defeating USC's Jodi Kenoyer 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals. She will play LSU's Rocio Fantilli in the final on Sunday.
UF freshman Natalie Mikolich also was in action, but lost both matches she played in the Flight C consolation draw, falling to Alabama's Natalie McEleven 6-1, 6-1 and to USC's Ayako Suzuki 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Mikolich will play one additional match on Sunday versus MSU's Marcelle Hirt.
UF Results Only, Nov. 9, 2002
Omni Hotels National Indoor Championships
Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, Texas
Singles, Semifinal
Jewel Peterson, Southern California (4) d. Alexis Gordon, Florida 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
SEC Coaches Fall Classic
Peachtree City Tennis Center, Peachtree City, Ga.
Doubles, Semifinal
Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes, UF d. Rocio Fantilli/Amanda Mang, LSU 9-7
Doubles Final
Tammy Encina/Sabita Maharaj, Tennessee d. Magley/Reyes, UF 8-6
Singles, Semifinal
Zerene Reyes, Florida d. Ashley Schellias, Vanderbilt 6-1, 6-1
Consolation Singles, Semifinal
Jennifer Magley, Florida d. Jodi Kenoyer, USC 6-1, 6-3
Consolation Singles, Flight C First Round
Natalie McEleven, Alabama d. Natalie Mikolich, Florida 6-1, 6-1
Additional Match
Ayako Suzuki, USC d. Natalie Mikolich, Florida 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
END OF REPORT
