The second-ranked Florida women's tennis team lost a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to fourth-ranked Duke in the final of the 2003 USTA/ITA National Women's Team Indoor at A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
The match came down to the No. 2 singles position, where Duke's Amanda Johnson outlasted Alexis Gordon 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to clinched the Blue Devils' first-ever USTA/ITA National Indoor title. The Gators entered the match aiming to win a record seventh indoor crown.
"Amanda Johnson played a fabulous third set to beat Alexis, who really fought as hard as she could," UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. "Alexis was up a set and a break and had opportunities to double that break. And when she didn't get that it looked like the wind went out of her sail a little bit. Amanda played a good game to even things in the second and at that point the momentum was clearly in her corner and she is a very good momentum player. She reeled off eight games in a row in about a 20 minute-span and in this setting it's just too tough to catch up. Alexis is a good fighter and there's really no one else I'd rather have in that situation, but when you spot someone a 4-0 lead (in the third set) it's usually too much to catch up to."
"We have to tip our hat to Duke. They played with a lot of emotion in doubles and that turned out to be the key. We look forward to playing Duke again during the regular season."
The two schools are scheduled to meet in Gainesville on March 26.
"I'm very proud of our effort and our players," Thornqvist said. "We learned a lot this week about ourselves that will help us down the stretch. We fought hard and got closer as a team."
Florida lost the doubles point for the first time this season, as Duke swept all three positions. But the Gators responded quickly after senior Julia Scaringe continued her impress streak by defeating Julie DeRoo 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 3 position in less than one hour. Scaringe completed the four-day tournament with a perfect 4-0 record, winning all singles bouts in straight sets. UF junior Julie Rotondi followed shortly with a 6-3, 7-5 victory against Julia Smith at the No. 4 spot to give the Gators a 2-1 lead.
Sophomore Zerene Reyes capped her singles appearance at the Indoor Championships with an unblemished 3-0 record, after topping Katie Blaszak 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 5 position and placing the Gators within one individual victory of the dual match.
But Duke's second-ranked Kelly McCain defeated seventh-ranked Lindsay Dawaf 7-5, 6-3 to get the Blue Devils to 3-2, and then rallied to even the match at the No. 6 position, where Katie Granson handed freshman Jennifer Magley a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 defeat, her first loss of the tournament. That set the stage for the No. 2 position to decide the championship, where Johnson emerged with the victory.
The USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championship is the nation's premier indoor tournament. This tournament, which usually serves as a sneak preview to the season-ending NCAA Championships in May, began in 1988 and has been hosted by Wisconsin each year.
The Gators return to the court on Saturday, Feb. 15, when the team plays host to 21st-ranked Miami at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex. The match begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free.
2003 USTA/ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships
Hosted by the University of Wisconsin
A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium
February 9, 2003
Final
Score: Duke 4, Florida 3
Doubles
1. McCain/Adams (13), DU d. Gordon/Scaringe (7), UF 8-6
2. DeRoo/Johnson (11), DU d. Dawaf/Rotondi (9), UF 9-7*
3. Granson/Smith (49), DU d. Magley/Reyes, UF 8-6
Singles
1. Kelly McCain (2), DU d. Lindsay Dawaf (7), UF 7-5, 6-3
2. Amanda Johnson (15), DU d. Alexis Gordon (9), UF 3-6, 6-4, 6-3*
3. Julia Scaringe (24), UF d. Julie DeRoo (36), DU 6-2, 6-0
4. Julie Rotondi (22), UF d. Julia Smith (65), DU 6-3, 7-5
5. Zerene Reyes (26), UF d. Katie Blaszak (81), DU 6-4, 6-2
6. Katie Granson (98), DU d. Jennifer Magley (83), UF 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 4
END OF REPORT
