Florida to Face Oklahoma State in NCAA Round of 16 Friday
Friday, May 15, 2015 | Women's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 5-ranked No. 5 seed Florida Gators continue their postseason run in the 2015 NCAA Championship when they face No. 12-ranked No. 12 seed Oklahoma State in a Round of 16 match-up on Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.
The Gators are 7-0 all-time against the Cowgirls.
UF reached the Round of 16 following its 4-0 defeat of No. 24 Georgia Tech in a Second Round contest and a 5-0 win versus Bethune-Cookman in the First Round.
2015 NCAA Tennis Championships Central
Interactive Bracket: http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/tennis-women/d1
Printable Bracket: http://i.turner.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/external/gametool/brackets/tennis-women_d1_2014.pdf
Thornqvist's Thoughts – Head coach Roland Thornqvist
On the overall feeling of the team at this point in the season…
“Overall, I think we feel really good. Our bodies, knock on wood, are really good as we're fit and really moving well. We are playing, in my mind, the best tennis we have played all year and that's certainly coming at a great time.”
Florida at the NCAA Championship:
Florida is making its 33rd appearance in the 34-year history of the NCAA Championship, missing only the 1986 event. UF is 104-26 all-time in NCAA Championship matches. The Gators have won six NCAA team titles: 1992, '96, '98, 2003, '11 & '12. They have reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship 24 times in the last 28 years (including 2014), with 13 trips to the NCAA Final.
Last Time:
Florida topped Oklahoma State, 4-1, in the NCAA Second Round in 2014 to advance to the Round of 16. OSU claimed the doubles point, but the Gators rattled off four-straight singles victories, including a win from current sophomore Kourtney Keegan, to reach the next round.
NCAA Success:
The Gators are 28-3 in NCAA Round of 16 matches. They improved to 17-0 in the First Round and 16-1 in the Second Round with wins in both rounds this season.
Sweet Victory:
Florida has advanced to the NCAA's “Sweet 16” 32 times in the 34-year history of the event. This year's Round of 16 berth marks the 11th-straight for the Gators.
What's Next:
The winner of the Florida vs. Oklahoma State match will take on the victor of a Round of 16 match-up between No. 4 Vanderbilt (4) and No. 21 Clemson. The Gators are 0-2 versus Vanderbilt this season and 1-0 against Clemson.
Florida vs. Round of 16 Field in 2015:
This season, the Gators faced seven of the other 15 teams remaining in NCAA competition. UF compiled a 5-3 record against those seven teams, falling to the Commodores twice.
UF as the NCAA No. 5 Seed:
This is the third time the Gators enter the NCAA Championship as the No. 5 seed. UF has been a top-five seed in 27 of its 33 overall NCAA appearances. Seeding for the NCAA began with the 1987 event.
Four-for-Four:
Freshman Josie Kuhlman has won all four of her combined singles and doubles matches through two rounds of 2015 NCAA competition.
Going the Distance in Doubles:
The Gators are 18-0 when winning the doubles point.
Sharing the Wealth:
All seven Gators who have competed in a 2015 NCAA match have contributed at least one singles or doubles win to the team's postseason run.
SEC Champions!
With wins over Georgia and Tennessee in their final regular season weekend at home, the Gators clinched their 28th SEC regular season title, their 10th under head coach Roland Thornqvist in his 14 years at the helm.
NCAA Round of 16
#5 Florida (23-3) vs. #12 Oklahoma State (23-5)
Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m.
Hurd Tennis Center
Live Video: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-tennis/live-stats-video.html
Live Stats: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-tennis/live-stats.html
Notes: http://www.gatorzone.com/tennis/women/stats/notes/pre/20150515170000.pdf
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