GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 3 Florida Gators improved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference with a 5-0 rout of No. 30 Auburn on Sunday afternoon at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
All three Gators that posted a singles point for Florida did so in straight sets. No. 5 Brooke Austin eased to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Auburn's Pleun Burgmans on Court 1, followed by No. 95 Peggy Porter's 6-4, 6-1 victory on Court 6 to put the home team ahead, 3-0. It was a race to clinch between No. 16 Brianna Morgan and No. 26 Belinda Woolcock, as both won their first set and held a 5-3 lead in their respective second, but Morgan secured the victory with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Emily Flickinger. Within seconds, Woolcock defeated Reka Muller, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Gators a rare 5-0 win.
The Orange and Blue have started slow in doubles as of late, but finally claimed the early point for the first time in their last three matches. Spencer Liang and Woolcock earned an 8-5 win over Michala Kucharova and Paula de Man on Court 3. Both matches on Court 1 and 2 were back and forth, but No. 5-ranked duo Austin and Kourtney Keegan clinched the point with an 8-7 (7) tie-break win.
The Gators compete on the road in their next four matches, starting with a road trip to LSU on Friday, March 6 for a 5 p.m. contest in Baton Rouge, La.
| 2015 University of Florida Women's Tennis |
| Scott Linder Stadium at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex |
| Gainesville, Fla. |
| Sunday, March 1, 2015 |
| | | | | | |
| Doubles | FLORIDA | vs | AUBURN | Winner | | Score/match length |
| Brooke Austin (5) | | Pleun Burgmans (8) | | | |
| No. 1 - | Kourtney Keegan (5) | | Emily Flickinger (8) | UF* | | 8-7 (7) (1:13) |
| Josie Kuhlman (18) | | Reka Muller | | | |
| No. 2 - | Peggy Porter (18) | | Jen Pfeifler | DNF | | 7-6, DNF |
| Spencer Liang | | Michala Kucharova | | | |
| No. 3 - | Belinda Woolcock | | Paula de Man | UF | | 8-5 (:52) |
| | | | | | |
| Singles | FLORIDA | vs | AUBURN | Winner | | Score/match length |
| No. 1 - | Brooke Austin (5) | | Pleun Burgmans | UF | | 6-2, 6-3 (1:15) |
| No. 2 - | Josie Kuhlman (9) | | Andie Dikosavljevic | DNF | | 6-3, 3-6, 2-0, DNF |
| No. 3 - | Brianna Morgan (16) | | Emily Flickinger | UF* | | 6-0, 6-3 (1:35) |
| No. 4 - | Belinda Woolcock (26) | | Reka Muller | UF | | 6-4, 6-3 (1:35) |
| No. 5 - | Kourtney Keegan (39) | | Paula de Man | DNF | | 7-6 (3), 2-3, DNF |
| No. 6 - | Peggy Porter (95) | | Jen Pfeifler | UF | | 6-4, 6-1 (1:15) |
| | | | | | |
| FINAL SCORE: | Florida – 5 | | Auburn – 0 | | | * Clinched victory |
| Records: | Florida 10-1, 2-0 | | Auburn 10-4, 0-2 | | | |
| Order of Finish: | Doubles: 3, 1* | | Singles: 1, 6, 3*, 4 | | | |
| Attendance: 315 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Quotes from the Match
Thornqvist's Thoughts – Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
On getting the doubles point for the first time in last three matches…
It's much better to be up 1-0. We had to win the point against the Grand Slam Champion team, Auburn's No. 1 team [No. 8 Pleun Burgmans and Emily Flickinger]. We looked much better across the board in doubles. I thought our attitudes were better and we were making some adjustments that we talked about yesterday in practice. It's certainly looking like we improved today.
On Peggy Porter's improvement in singles…
She's really maturing as a player here. She's still hitting the ball, but with greater discipline. Her targets are better. She's making fewer unforced errors. Since the last match of National Indoors, she's really gotten better every day we've been out here. A lot of it has nothing to do with forehands and backhands. It's decision making. That's definitely improving and that's why she's beating great players now in straight sets.
Freshman Peggy Porter
On what she's been working on to improve her game…
I definitely feel like I've improved mentally. I started off the season really nervous every match, but now I have faith in the fitness work we've put in during the fall and in the season. I'm not afraid to play long points, just make a lot of balls and wait for the winners to come later in the match.
On being able to put up points for her team…
It's so much fun. It's the best feeling to put a point up on the board for your team. And even if you don't, it's so much fun just to fight to keep the other team from getting a point. It's a lot more fun playing in a team setting than it was just playing for yourself. You feel like you're playing for a lot more. It's less pressure in some aspects and more pressure in others and it's a lot of fun.
140 and Counting:
Florida extended its overall program-record home winning streak to 140 matches after the 4-0 shutout of Auburn. The streak is the longest active home win streak of any NCAA DI women's team in any sport and second-longest of any NCAA DI team behind the NCAA-record run by the Ohio State men's tennis team, which recently recorded its 201st consecutive home win.
Florida vs. Auburn:
Florida remains undefeated against Auburn in all-time history. The Gators are 37-0 against the Tigers and 16-0 in Gainesville.
Home Sweet Home:
Florida boasts an impressive 475-25 all-time home record in Gainesville.
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