The seventh-ranked University of Florida women's tennis team handed 12th-ranked Duke its first home loss of the season, as the Gators posted an impressive 4-1 victory over the Blue Devils Tuesday evening at the Ambler Tennis Stadium.
Florida (13-1), which won its seventh consecutive match, swept the doubles competition, marking just the third time this season Duke (10-5) has dropped the doubles point.
The Gators then received singles wins from Lolita Frangulyan, Alexis Gordon and Diana Srebrovic to capture the victory. UF's Bolgarka Berecz and Nina Suvak led 4-1 in the second set of each of their respective singles matches when play was abandoned.
“It was very difficult conditions today with the wind and the cold, but we handled it very well and that really was the difference in the match,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “To beat Duke at home is always a tough thing to do and I'm proud of the way we came out focused and didn't let the weather conditions affect our play.”
Frangulyan gave the Gators a 2-0 lead in the team scoring by earning the first singles victory of the day, a 6-3, 6-2 win over Jessi Robinson at the No. 6 position.
Gordon, who early in the day was named the Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week, continued her impressive play by upsetting second-ranked Daniela Bercek 6-0, 6-2. The victory was Gordon's second straight over a higher-ranked opponent and the highest-ranked foe she has ever defeated. Her previous best win was a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Georgia's No. 5 Agata Cioroch on March 26, 2004.
UF's fourth-ranked Diana Srebrovic also collected a victory over a nationally-ranked foe, downing 29th-ranked Jackie Carleton 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 2 spot to clinch the dual match win for the Gators.
UF's lone loss was on court No. 3, where sophomore Whitney Benik had her 13-match win streak end with a 6-2, 6-2 setback to Melissa Mang. Earlier in the match, Benik did pair with Gordon at the No. 1 doubles spot to earn an 8-4 upset over Duke's 17th-ranked team of Daniela Bercek and Jessi Robinson.
The Gators continue their three-match road trip on Friday, returning to SEC action to face Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Women's College Tennis
No. 7 Florida at No. 12 Duke
Ambler Tennis Stadium, Durham, N.C.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Final Score: Florida 4, Duke 1
Doubles
No. 1 Whitney Benik/Alexis Gordon, UF def. Daniela Bercek/Jessi Robinson (17), DU 8-4
No. 2 Lolita Frangulyan/Diana Srebrovic (47), UF def. Jackie Carleton/Kristin Cargill, DU 8-4*
No. 3 Keri Robison/Nina Suvak, UF def. Melissa Mang/Jennifer Zika, DU 8-2
Singles
No. 1 Alexis Gordon (37), UF def. Daniela Bercek (2), DU 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 Diana Srebrovic (4), UF def. Jackie Carleton (29), DU 6-4, 6-1*
No. 3 Melissa Mang (122), DU def. Whitney Benik (87), UF 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Boglarka Berecz (46), UF led Tara Iyer (66), DU 6-1, 4-1 DNF
No. 5 Nina Suvak, UF led Kristin Cargill, DU 7-5, 4-1 DNF
No. 6 Lolita Frangulyan, UF def. Jessi Robinson, DU 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles 3, 2, 1; Singles 6, 3, 1, 2
END OF REPORT
