The eighth-ranked University of Florida women's tennis team made quick work of BYU in the first round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, earning a 4-0 win at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex Friday morning.
Florida (3-0) will play No. 31 FIU (3-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the second round, while BYU will face No. 22 SMU at 10 a.m. in the consolation match. The Panthers upset the Mustangs, 4-2 in their first round match.
The winner of Saturday's second round match advances to the round of 16 at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, which will be held from Feb. 12-15 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis.
The Gators improved to 17-3 all-time against the Cougars, with Saturday's match the first meeting between the teams since April 7, 2000, when UF earned an 8-1 win over visiting BYU (1-2).
“BYU is the best team we've faced to this point in the season,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “I thought we were pushed at one and two singles more than we have been so far, which is good for us. The team we play next is going to be even tougher. We have to be ready for tougher sets and get used to playing deeper into sets. Overall, we were happy to get finished with our match quickly so we could get off the courts, rest and get ready for Saturday.”
Florida started quickly, winning the doubles point in 30 minutes, as the Gators No. 1 tandem of Marrit Boonstra and Allie Will upset 18th-ranked MaCall Jones and Megan Price, 8-1, just moments before the No. 3 court wrapped up play with the Gators' Caroline Hitimana and Joanna Mather blanked Chie Hayasaka and Aubrey Paul, 8-0. Play at the No. 2 position was abandoned once Florida clinched the doubles point.
Boonstra and Will raced out to a 4-0 lead, before BYU managed to break Boonstra's serve. The Gator pair, however, broke right back and Will held at love. Boonstra closed out the match two games later, not losing a point on her serve.
“I think we have good chemistry on the court,” Boonstra shared. “I like to play with Allie because we both come to the net. I think it's going to work out great this season.”
The Gators won the first set on all six singles court, with Anastasia Revzina, Hitimana and Boonstra able to clock in straight-set victories to secure the 4-0 team win.
Revzina was the first Gator off the singles court, defeating Liza Ezhova, 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 position to give Florida a 2-0 lead. The match began with the two trading breaks, as Revzina won the final six games of the set and opened the second with a break. Again, the two traded breaks, as Revzina held serve for the rest of the match, earning a final break in the seventh game en route to the 48-minute win.
“It was quick, but definitely harder than the other dual matches I've played so far,” Revzina said. “I made some mistakes but now I know what I need to work on more. Overall, I thought I played a good singles match.”
Hitimana just missed her first collegiate double-bagel, winning the first 10 games before Megan Price was able to hold, as the Gator freshman earned her final break at love, using a drop shot winner on the last shot and claimed the 6-0, 6-1 decision on court No. 5 that gave the Gators a 3-0 lead.
Boonstra then polished off the dual match with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Chie Hayasaka at the No. 3 spot in 59 minutes. Boonstra swept through the first set and began the second with a break. Hayasaka finally found her game and was able to hold her serve her twice, before Boonstra earned fifth break of the match and served out at love to take the win.
“Today, I played pretty good in singles and doubles,” Boonstra said. “My serve is getting better every day and that helps my game a lot. I've been staying positive on the court, which also helps.”
Friday's win extended the Gators' program-record overall win streak to 69 consecutive, while also marking UF's 80th straight regular-season home victory.
In the event of rain on Saturday, fans are encouraged to check www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators, for updates regarding the schedule of play. Fans also can call the Gator WeatherLine (352-375-4683, ext. 3044) for the most up-to-date information regarding all home events.
ITA Women's Kick-Off Classic – First Round
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, January 29, 2010
First Round
Final Scores: Florida 4, BYU 0
FIU 4, SMU 2
Florida vs. BYU Dual Match Results
Doubles
No. 1 Marrit Boonstra/Allie Will (UF) d. (18) MaCall Jones/Megan Price (BYU), 8-1
No. 2 Kristina Doerr/Romina Nedakovic (BYU) led Lauren Embree/Anastasia Revzina (UF), 5-4 DNF
No. 3 Caroline Hitimana/Joanna Mather (UF) d. Chie Hayasaka/Aubrey Paul (BYU), 8-0*
Singles
No. 1 (15) Lauren Embree (UF) led (54) MaCall Jones (BYU), 7-6 (4) DNF
No. 2 (13) Allie Will (UF) led Kristina Doerr (BYU), 6-1, 3-3 DNF
No. 3 (81) Marrit Boonstra (UF) d. Chie Hayasaka (BYU), 6-0, 6-2*
No. 4 (92) Anastasia Revzina (UF) d. Liza Ezhova (BYU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 Caroline Hitimana (UF) d. Megan Price (BYU), 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 Claire Bartlett (UF) led Romina Nedakovic (BYU), 6-0, 3-4 DNF
Updated Records: Florida 3-0, BYU, 1-2
Order of Finish: Doubles- 1, 3; Singles-4, 5, 3
SMU vs. FIU Dual Match Results
Doubles
No. 1 Liset Brito/Priscilla Castillo (FIU) d. (30) Marta Lesniak/Aleksandra Malyarchikova (SMU), 8-1
No. 2 Pavi Francis/Shahzoda Hatamova (SMU) tied Mariana Muci/Maria Spenceley (FIU), 6-6 DNF
No. 3 Maria Pazo/Maria Vallasciani (FIU) d. Casey Kennedy/Sophie Quist (SMU), 9-7*
Singles
No. 1 Liset Brito (FIU) led (30) Marta Lesniak (SMU), 7-6 (6), 2-6, 4-3 DNF
No. 2 (76) Aleksandra Malyarchikova (SMU) d. Mariana Muci (FIU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 Chrissie Seredni (FIU) d. Pavi Francis (SMU), 1-6, 6-2, 6-4*
No. 4 Shahzoda Hatamova (SMU) d. Maria Spenceley (FIU), 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 Priscilla Castillo (FIU) d. Casey Kennedy (SMU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Maria Vallasciani (FIU) d. Sophie Quist (SMU), 6-1, 6-1
Updated Records: SMU 4-1, FIU, 3-0
Order of Finish: Doubles- 1, 3; Singles-6, 5, 4, 2, 3
-UF-
