Florida Gators
NCAA Team Championships (First Round) - Georgia Tech
Men's Tennis Opens NCAA Tournament With 4-1 Win Over Georgia Tech
Friday, May 11, 2007 | Men's Tennis
For the sixth straight season, the No. 19 University of Florida men's tennis team opened the NCAA team draw with a victory as the Gators defeated No. 46 Georgia Tech, 4-1, Friday afternoon at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center in Tallahassee, Fla.
“We were tight today and we have a lot of respect for Georgia Tech,” said UF head coach Andy Jackson. “We responded well to the pressure. The top of our lineup has been spectacular all season and was outstanding again today. We won the match though because they had help.”
With the win, the Gators improved to 14-7 overall on the season. UF advanced to meet Florida State which opened the day with a 4-0 victory over Manhattan. Florida and Florida State will meet for the third time ever in the NCAA tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner will earn a trip to the NCAA Round of 16, which begins next Thursday in Athens, Ga.
Florida has shut out Florida State 4-0 in each of the two previous meetings in the event. The two met for the first time in NCAA play in the second round in 2003 in Gainesville. The last encounter came in the 2005 quarterfinals in College Station, Texas.
“Matches like tomorrow are what make it fun,” Jackson commented. “It is a chance to go against your biggest rival on their home courts for a trip to the Round of 16. We will be ready to play.”
Against Georgia Tech, Florida grabbed the doubles point in 43 minutes with wins at the top and bottom of the order. UF's third-ranked Jesse Levine and Greg Ouellette paired for an 8-5 victory on court one over Georgia Tech's David North and Jose Muguruza. The win moved the UF tandem to 17-2 on the year and brought their win streak to 10 straight. Dan Cash and Jordan Dolberg clinched the 1-0 lead for the Gators with an 8-3 decision against Jordan DeLass and George Gvelesiani.
Singles play saw the top of the lineup deliver with Nestor Briceno putting the Gators on top 2-0 with a straight set 6-0, 6-2 showing against DeLass on court three. Briceno improved to 15-5 on the year in dual matches and won his fifth straight.
After Georgia Tech made it 1-1 with a win on court four, Ouellette (No. 21) put the Gators one away from the match as he also won in straight sets against Muguruza on court two (6-3, 6-2). Ouellette now has 83 singles wins in his collegiate career, which is tied for eighth on UF's all-time chart with Doug Poudian (1989-92).
Levine (No. 3) clinched for the Gators by taking out North (No. 42) on the top court (6-4, 6-2). The UF newcomer is now 20-0 on the season with 18 wins coming in straight sets. He also became the first Gator since Ryan Sherry in 2004 to record 20 dual match singles wins in a season. Levine leads all Gators with a 15-0 record against ranked opponents this year.
2007 NCAA First Round
Tallahassee, Fla.
May 11, 2007
#19 Florida vs. No. 46 Georgia Tech
Doubles
1 (3) Greg Ouellette-Jesse Levine, UF def. David North-Jose Muguruza, GT, 8-5
2 Scott Blackmon-Zach Rath, GT, vs. Nestor Briceno-Geoffrey Barton, UF, 6-3 (DNF)
3 Dan Cash-Jordan Dolberg, UF def. Jordan DeLass-George Gvelesiani, GT, 8-3
Singles
1 (3) Jesse Levine, UF def. (42) David North, GT, 6-4, 6-2
2 (21) Greg Ouellette, UF def. Jose Muguruza, GT, 6-3, 6-2
3 Nestor Briceno, UF def. Jordan DeLass, GT, 6-0, 6-2
4 Scott Blackmon, GT def. Billy Mulligan, UF, 6-1, 6-1
5 Jordan Dolberg, UF vs. Zach Rath, GT, 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (DNF)
6 Austin Roebuck, GT vs. Dan Cash, UF, 4-6, 6-2, 2-1 (DNF)
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1,3 Singles: 3, 4, 2, 1
Team Notes:
The Gators moved to 31-16 (.659) in NCAA tournament play since 1991.
Since the NCAA expanded to the field of 64 in 1999, the Gators have advanced to the second round (Round of 32) eight of nine years and each of the six years under head coach Andy Jackson.
In six seasons under head coach Andy Jackson the Gators are 11-0 in NCAA first and second round matches and have outscored opponents 44-5.
Florida improved to 12-0 this season when winning the doubles point.
The Gators are 26-1 in six seasons under head coach Andy Jackson against in state opponents. The loss came in the 2007 regular season meeting with Florida State on February 17 in Tallahassee. In that meeting, the Gators fell 4-3. Florida State got the doubles point with wins on courts two and three and got points on the four, five and six singles courts.
Florida State will be the tenth top 25 opponent the Gators have faced this season (based on ranking at time of match). This season, UF defeated No. 2 Baylor (4-3), No. 10 LSU (4-3) and No. 16 Alabama (4-3). UF also beat Tennessee this season, 4-3, which was ranked No. 38 at the time of the match and is currently No. 25.
