Florida Gators
Alabama
No. 1 Women's Tennis Defeats Alabama, 6-1
Saturday, March 30, 2002 | Women's Tennis
The University of Florida women's tennis team played its first match since receiving the No. 1 ranking this week and defeated Alabama 6-1 at the Varsity Courts to improve to 13-0 overall, 7-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
"Alabama played extremely well today and pushed us significantly," UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. "We came out a bit flat and they made us raise our level of play to get the win today. It was a very tough match and I'm pleased with the victory."
The loss drops No. 33 Alabama to 12-5 on the season and 3-4 in the SEC.
Florida jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches and claiming the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, Florida's second ranked doubles team of Jessica Lehnhoff and Lindsay Dawaf defeated Millie Begovic and Weyli Chang lost 8-6. Florida's Alexis Gordon and Julia Scaringe topped Alabama's Jenny Ketchum and Sophie Cremers 8-5 at the No. 2 spot, while UF's Annika Bengtsson and Zerene Reyes took the No. 3 match against Becca Baum and Selia Mathew with an 8-6 decision.
The Gators took a 2-0 lead as Florida's 76th ranked Gordon defeated Alabama's Cremers 6-2, 6-3 at number four singles. At number two singles, 26th-ranked Dawaf topped Ketchum 6-3, 6-0. Florida then clinched the match at the No. 3 position, where 47th ranked Reyes won 6-2, 6-2 over Begovic.
Chang provided the lone Alabama point, as she won 6-2, 7-6 over Scaringe at number five singles.
Florida's Bengtsson won by default over Bama's Baum at number six singles.
Second-ranked Jessica Lehnhoff halted her two-match skid with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Alabama's Selia Mathew lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 1 position.
"Florida played well and very disciplined," UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. "We fought hard. We had a lot of opportunities in singles and doubles."
The Gators return to action on Sunday, when Florida travels to Auburn to meet the Tigers beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
College Women's Tennis
Tuscaloosa, AL
Friday, March 29, 2002
Final Score: Florida 6, Alabama 1
Doubles
1. No. 2 Lehnhoff/Dawaf (UF) def. Chang/Begovic(UA) 8-6
2. Gordon/Scaringe (UF) def. Ketchum/Cremers(UA) 8-5
3. Bengtsson/Reyes (UF) def. Baum/Mathew(UA) 8-6
Singles
1. No. 2 Jessica Lehnhoff (UF) def. Selia Mathew(UA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 26 Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. Jenny Ketchum(UA) 6-3, 6-0
3. No. 47 Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Millie Begovic(UA) 6-2, 6-2
4. No. 76 Alexis Gordon (UF) def. Sophie Cremers(UA) 6-2, 6-3
5. Weyli Chang (UA) def. Julia Scaringe(UF) 6-2, 7-6
6. Annika Bengtsson (UF) def. Becca Baum(UA) 1-6, 6-4, 3-1 default
END OF REPORT
