Florida Gators
#19 Vanderbilt - SEC Tournament Quarterfinals
Women's Tennis Defeats Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament QF, 4-2
Friday, April 24, 2009 | Women's Tennis
The University of Florida women's tennis team remained perfect all-time in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament with its 4-2 victory over Vanderbilt Friday at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
The fourth-seeded and 15th-ranked Gators (14-8) made it 22-for-22 in the round of eight at the league's postseason event and advanced to Saturday morning's semifinal round, where the team plays top-seeded and third-ranked Georgia (21-2) beginning at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT).
In what has easily become the key to Florida's success this season, the team raced out to win the crucial doubles point and leaned on the talent at the top of its lineup en route to the victory over fifth-seeded and 19th-ranked Vanderbilt (11-8).
The Commodores quickly won the No. 3 doubles match, placing pressure on Florida's other two tandems, which have seemingly thrived under pressure all year, as Jessica Alexander and Anastasia Revzina paired for the 8-5 win at the No. 2 court, before Marrit Boonstra and Joanna Mather upset Jackie Wu and Heather Steinbaur, 8-4 to seal the doubles decision.
Vanderbilt tied the team scoring at 1-all after taking the win on court No. 6. Boonstra stormed back and posted an impressive 6-1, 6-3 victory over Catherine Newman on the showcase court to give the Gators a 2-1 lead. The Gator junior improved to 19-2 in dual match singles play at the No. 1 spot.
Mather added onto the lead after she punched in her team-leading 10th consecutive singles victory, a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Keilly Ulery on court No. 3.
The Commodores continued to pressure Florida on the other courts, taking the win at No. 5 to close to 3-2 in the team scoring.
Revzina fell behind 3-0 to start her No. 2 match against Jackie Wu and Alexander had just emerged from winning an opening-set tiebreaker and was in a tight second set. The Gator rookie dug deep and emerged with the 7-6, 6-4 outcome over Chelsea Preeg at the No. 4 spot to clinch the dual match.
“We played well in doubles. That was our key today because our players felt like they could win. Although she didn't get to finish, the turnaround was on court two. (Anastasia Revzina) was down 3-0 but came back and won the first set (6-4),” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “She was a key to the win on the other courts. Our players did great. We have an uphill climb (Saturday against Georgia), but we are ready to tackle the challenge. We play Vanderbilt every year, and it's always a classy match and a great match.”
Florida won the 4-3 thriller against Georgia during the regular season contest played in Gainesville.
SEC Women's Tennis Tournament
Billingsley Tennis Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Quarterfinal Team Results
(1) Georgia d. (8) Alabama, 4-1
(4) Florida d. (5) Vanderbilt, 4-2
(2) Arkansas vs. (7) Ole Miss, later
(3) Tennessee vs. (6) South Carolina, later
UF Individual Dual Match Results Only
Final Score: No. 15 Florida d. No. 19 Vanderbilt, 4-2
Doubles
No. 1 – (43) Marrit Boonstra/Joanna Mather (UF) def. (38) Jackie Wu/Heather Steinbaur, 8-4*
No. 2 – (29) Jessica Alexander/Anastasia Revzina (UF) def. Catherine Newman/Chelsea Preeg, 8-5
No. 3 - Courtney Ulery/Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Brooke Allen/Lauren Wolken, 8-1
Singles
No. 1 – (7) Marrit Boonstra (UF) def. (61) Catherine Newman, 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 – (47) Anastasia Revzina (UF) led (57) Jackie Wu, 6-4, 4-3 DNF
No. 3 - Joanna Mather (UF) def. Keilly Ulery, 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 - Jessica Alexander (UF) def. Chelsea Preeg, 7-5, 6-4*
No. 5 - Heather Steinbaur (VU) def. Barbara Pintervo, 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 - Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Brooke Allen, 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: doubles- 3, 2, 1*; singles-6,1,3,5,4*
POST MATCH QUOTES
Florida Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
“We played well in doubles. That was our key today because our players felt like they could win. Although she didn't get to finish, the turnaround was on court two. (Anastasia Revzina) was down 3-0 but came back and won the first set (6-4). She was a key to the win on the other courts. Our players did great. We have an uphill climb (Saturday against Georgia), but we are ready to tackle the challenge. We play Vanderbilt every year, and it's always a classy match and a great match.”
Vanderbilt Head Coach Geoff Macdonald:
“We just could not get over the hump. Florida played really well (Marrit) Boonstra did a good job. They played a great doubles point. It's weird to be playing inside (due to heavy winds), but that's the way it goes. Their top four were phenomenal. We fought really hard, but we're really young and I think we'll learn from this.”
-UF-
