Florida Gators
Gator Fall Classic -Day 1 of 3
Women's Tennis Enjoys Perfect Opening Day at Gator Fall Classic
Friday, September 23, 2005 | Women's Tennis
The University of Florida women's tennis team enjoyed a perfect day of play at the season-opening Gator Fall Classic Friday at the Ring Tennis Complex. The Gators won all five singles matches against challengers from FIU after winning both doubles matches versus teams from Miami.
Collecting singles victories for Florida included Whitney Benik, Boglarka Berecz, Lolita Frangulyan, Diana Srebrovic and Nina Suvak.
Action continues on Saturday at 9 a.m., as the Gators play doubles against Northwestern and singles versus Miami.
Frangulyan was the first Gator off the singles court after FIU's Marijana Cutuk retired due to injury with Frangulyan leading 4-2 in the opening set. The Gator sophomore did get solid work during the doubles portion of the day, as she teamed with newcomer Srebrovic to down Miami's pair of Ana Rupic and Patricia Starzyk 8-3.
"Doubles was great," Frangulyan said. "This was my first match playing with 'D' (Srebovic), we never really even practiced together and it was fun. She hit some big shots and I poached well. We played well together. I felt great chemistry playing with her and hopefully that will continue."
Srebovic, a sophomore from Oakville, Ontario, won her Gator debut with a solid 6-1, 6-2 victory over FIU's Bruna Discordia.
"It was a lot of fun," Srebovic said of her Gator debut. "The atmosphere was incredible, not what I'm used to. I loved it. I love the team, love the coaches. For my first match, I was pretty pleased. I had a little hiccup in the second set when I got up 5-0, but other than that my forehand was working."
Berecz was the first Gator to finish her singles match, netting an impressive 6-1, 6-0 win over FIU's Paula Zabala.
"I feel like I'm getting better and my forehand and serve are coming back," Berecz said of her first match since undergoing wrist surgery this summer. "I struggled with the injury a lot last year but I feel so much better now. I missed playing here and am so happy to be back on these courts."
Sophomore Benik got off to a slow start, but quickly found her groove to post a 6-3, 6-2 decision over FIU's Nikkita Fountain.
"I'm always tentative in the first match and I started slow, but toward the end I started playing much better," Benik said. "Overall, it was good first day. I love playing on these courts and being with my teammates. It wasn't the fun of a dual match, but it felt like it a little."
Suvak, a junior, provided the most drama of the day for the Gators, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to close out a straight set victory over Shilla D'Armas 6-2, 7-5.
"When I returned from the summer, (head coach) Roland (Thornqvist) and I decided to change my game a little and become more aggressive because I have all the ability to play that way," Suvak said. "It worked well in the first set, but (D'Armas) figured out what I was trying to do. It's always hard playing the first match of the season, but I was able to get back on track and win in straight sets. I'm happy with the win, but certainly not satisfied with my game."
2005 Women's Tennis Gator Fall Classic
Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Singles & Doubles Agate for Friday, September 23, 2005
Doubles
Emily Mowery-Caren Seenauth, Miami def. Marijana Cutuk-Shilla D'Armas, FIU 8-5
Feriel Esseghir-Alexis Prousis, NW def. Egle Petrauskaite-Paula Zabala, FIU 8-5
Whitney Benik-Nina Suvak, Florida def. Audrey Banada-Monika Dancevic, Miami 8-3
Nazlie Ghazal-Cristelle Greir, NW def. Nikkita Fountain-Desanka Jovanovic, FIU 8-5
Lolita Frangulyan-Diana Srebrovic, Florida def. Ana Rupic-Patricia Starzyk, Miami 8-3
Alexis Conill-Jamie Peisel, NW def. Bruna Discordia-Courtney Jonson, FIU 8-5
Singles
Boglarka Berecz, Florida def. Paula Zabala, FIU 6-1, 6-0
Whitney Benik, Florida def. Nikkita Fountain, FIU 6-3, 6-2
Nina Suvak, Florida def. Shilla D'Armas, FIU 6-2, 7-5
Diana Srebrovic, Florida def. Bruna Discordia, FIU 6-1, 6-2
Lolita Frangulyan, Florida def. Marijana Cutuk, FIU 4-2, ret.
Caren Seenauth, Miami def. Desanka Jovanovic, FIU 6-4, 6-2
Cristelle Greir, NW def. Monika Dancevic, Miami 6-3, 6-2
Alexis Prousis, NW def. Ana Rupic, Miami 7-5, 6-1
Patricia Starzyk, Miami def. Jamie Peisel, NW 6-2, 6-4
Emily Mowery, Miami def. Feriel Esseghir, NW 2-6, 6-3, 2-1 default
END OF REPORT
