Florida Gators
ITA All-American (Qualifying) - Day 2 of 2
W-Tennis Lands Three in Main Draw of Riviera All-American Championships
Thursday, October 8, 2009 | Women's Tennis
University of Florida freshmen Lauren Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) and Allie Will (Boca Raton, Fla.) continued their impressive play, as they won their respective singles matches and teamed for a doubles victory on Wednesday in the final round of qualifying at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships on Tuesday at the Riviera Tennis Club.
The Gator rookies join senior Marrit Boonstra (The Netherlands) in the 32-player singles main draw of the prestigious national event, while also earning a spot in the 16-team doubles draw. The Riviera/ITA All-American Championships, considered the first leg of the collegiate Grand Slam, begins Thursday.
Embree took down Vanderbilt's 46th-ranked Catherine Newman, 7-6 (4), 6-0, while Will logged an impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory over UCLA's 37th-ranked Andrea Remynse in the third and final round of qualifying action.
“The most impressive thing about what both Lauren and Allie were able to do today was their ability to change their style of play in the middle of a match,” UF associate head coach Dave Balogh said. “That's something players have to learn to do, but for them to have the awareness as freshmen in their first national tournament against very talented players means we are really heading in the right direction.”
In doubles action, the young pair toppled Texas' 27th-ranked team of Amanda Craddock and Krista Damico, 8-6, before earning an 8-5 win over North Carolina's 18th-ranked Shinann Featherston and Katrina Tsang.
“In their second match, they kept their composure when their opponents started to make a run,” Balogh said. “Everyone is so talented at this stage of the tournament and composure is so important. It was a good, good effort today and we'll see if we can keep it rolling.”
Boonstra paired with sophomore in the qualifying doubles draw and defeated Northwestern's team of Lauren Lui and Samantha Murray, 8-6, but fell to Washington's Joyce Ardies and Denise Dy in the third and final round, 8-5.
The Gators won 11 of 12 total matches over the last two days to have an impressive presence in the singles and doubles draws.
Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships, Qualifying
Riviera Tennis Club
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Wed., Oct. 7, 2009
UF Results Only
Singles Qualifying, Third/Final Round (Round of 16)
Allie Will (UF) d. (37) Andrea Remynse (UCLA), 6-2, 6-0
Lauren Embree (UF) d. (46) Catherine Newman (Vanderbilt), 7-6 (4), 6-0
Doubles Qualifying, Second Round (Round of 16)
(10) Marrit Boonstra/Joanna Mather (UF) d. (35) Lauren Lui/Samantha Murray (Northwestern) 8-6
Lauren Embree/Allie Will (UF) d. (27) Amanda Craddock/Krista Damico (Texas), 8-6
Doubles Qualifying, Third/Final Round (Round of 8)
Lauren Embree/Allie Will (UF) d. (18) Shinann Featherston/Katrina Tsang (UNC) 8-5
(17) Joyce Ardies/Denise Dy (Washington) d. (10) Marrit Boonstra/Joanna Mather (UF), 8-5
-UF-
