The University of Florida women's tennis team passed its toughest test of the 2003-04 season by recording a hard-fought and impressive 6-1 victory over No. 4 Duke Thursday evening at Ambler Tennis Stadium.
The win improved the Gator's overall win streak to 35 matches, tying for the third best streak in program history. UF is 18-0 this season and will attempt to close the regular season undefeated when the team travels to Columbia, S.C., on Sunday to face South Carolina. A victory over the Gamecocks would give the Gators the overall Southeastern Conference title. UF already has secured no worse than a tie for its 20th SEC crown in the 25-year history of league play.
The Gators have posted a total of six undefeated seasons entering the SEC Tournament, most recently in 1998 when UF eventually went on to win its third of four NCAA titles.
Florida opened Thursday's match winning the all-important doubles point for the 18th time this season, sweeping the Blue Devils (16-2) at all three positions. UF's No. 2 doubles team of Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes continued their impressive run, posting their 18th consecutive victory which is the fourth longest streak in UF history, with a 8-4 decision over Amanda Johnson and Saras Arasu.
Duke then evened the team scoring at 1-all after No. 9 Amanda Johnson upset UF's top-ranked Alexis Gordon 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. The match was the first time the Gator junior has played since earning the nation's top singles ranking on Tuesday.
However, UF's 24th-ranked Jennifer Magley proved too much for Duke's 92nd-ranked Jennifer Zika, posting a 6-3, 7-5 victory at the No. 2 position and giving the Gators a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Boglarka Berecz then polished off Julia Smith 6-4, 7-5 in a tough battle on court No. 4 to extend UF's lead to 3-1.
It was at this point in the match where two Gators were rallying to force a decisive third set in their respective singles matches, while another Gator was trying to record a tough straight set victory.
Senior Lindsay Dawaf out-slugged Saras Arasu at the No. 5 position 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the team victory for the Gators. The win was Dawaf's 17th consecutive, as she remained undefeated in singles matches this season.
On court No. 6, UF freshman Nina Suvak rallied from a one-set deficit against Kristin Cargill to log a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory, while junior Zerene Reyes posted her 15th straight victory with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win against Tory Zawacki at the No. 3 spot.
Women's College Tennis
Ambler Tennis Stadium
Durham, N.C.
April 8, 2004
Final Score: Florida 6, Duke 1
Singles
No. 1 Amanda Johnson (9), DU def. Alexis Gordon (1), UF 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Jennifer Magley (24), UF def. Jennifer Zika (92), DU 6-3, 7-5
No. 3 Zerene Reyes (45), UF def. Tory Zawacki, DU 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 Boglarka Berecz (99), UF def. Julia Smith, DU 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 Lindsay Dawaf (110), UF def. Saras Arasu (110), DU 6-4, 7-6
No. 6 Nina Suvak, UF def. Kristin Cargill, DU 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Alexis Gordon/Julie Rotondi (8), UF def. Tory Zawacki/Julia Smith, DU 9-8
No. 2 Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes (20), UF def. Amanda Johnson/Saras Arasu, DU 8-4
No. 3 Boglarka Berecz/Nina Suvak, UF def. Jennifer Zika/Kristin Cargill, DU 8-1
Order of Finish: Doubles 3, 2, 1; Singles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 3
END OF REPORT
