For the first time in nearly three weeks, the fifth-ranked University of Florida women's team played on its home courts as the Gators bounced back on Friday evening to defeat No. 21 Clemson, 6-1, at the Ring Tennis Complex. Florida, who returned home from a five-match road trip, improved its record to 15-2 on the season, while Clemson fell to 13-3.
The match also improved the Gators to 10-1 this season against non-conference foes, and in doing so brought the series record with Clemson to 19-0 all-time in favor of UF.
"I was happy with the match because I thought we were playing a lot tougher and we were physically better than we have been," said UF head coach Roland Thornqvist. "Clemson is a great team, and I was happy to see us perform like that after a loss to Vanderbilt. To play in front of our fans also helped us out and it was great to be back home. Wake Forest is having a tough season, but they are coached well and they have nothing to lose on Sunday. We expect another hard match."
UF seized the doubles point when 14th-ranked Lindsay Dawaf and Julia Scaringe cruised to an 8-0 victory on court three in 45 minutes over Clemson's Richele LeSaldo and Anna Dolinska. With Florida in position to take a 1-0 lead, Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes clinched it for the Gators with an 8-4 win over Julie Coin and Laurence Jayet at the top of the line up. Clemson's Alix Lacelarie and Daniela Alvarez, who are tied for 58th nationally, did pull of an upset over Florida's eighth-ranked Alexis Gordon and Julie Rotondi on court two. With the Florida duo hanging to a 6-3 lead, Clemson's tandem took five straight sets for the 8-6 come from behind win.
In the singles matches, Florida built on the momentum from the doubles matches to push the lead out to 3-0 with wins on courts four and five. Florida's 12th-ranked Alexis Gordon won her eighth straight match with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over No. 31 Laurence Jayet. Teammate Jennifer Magley (No. 55) put the Gators within one point of the match with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Ana Stiglic. The Gators were tested on the rest of the courts, however, 15th-ranked Lindsay Dawaf secured the win with a 7-6 (3), 6-2 win over Daniel Alvarez on court two. With the issue no longer in doubt, the rest of the matches went to a third set. UF also picked up wins on courts three and six. At No. 3 Zerene Reyes came back after dropping the first set 7-6 (1), to defeat Alix Lacelaire with a 6-0 win in the second set and a 10-5 win in a tie break. On court six, Boglarka Berecz also fell behind early, 6-4, but used two straight 6-2 sets to defeat Ioana Paun.
Florida will remain at home as it faces its second straight ACC opponent in Wake Forest on Sunday, March 23, at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m.
NCAA Women's Tennis
Florida 6, Clemson 1
Doubles
No. 1 Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Julie Coin/Laurence Jayet (CU), 8-4
No. 2 #T58 Alix Lacelarie/Daniela Alvarez (CU) def. #8 Alexis Gordon/Julie Rotondi (UF), 8-6
No. 3 #14 Lindsay Dawaf/Julia Scaringe (UF) def. Richele LeSaldo/Anna Dolinska (CU), 8-0
Singles
No. 1 #25 Julie Coin (CU) def. #37 Julia Scaringe (UF) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
No. 2 #15 Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. Daniela Alvarez (CU), 7-5 (2), 6-2
No. 3 #29 Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Alix Lacelarie (CU), 6-7 (1), 6-0, 10-5
No. 4 #12 Alexis Gordon (UF) def. #31 Laurence Jayet (CU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 #55 Jennifer Magley (UF) def. Ana Stiglic (CU), 6-1, 6-0
No. 6 Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Ioana Paun (CU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Numbers preceding names indicate current national rankings
