Kuhlman Moves On, Austin and Keegan Advance in Doubles

Thursday, May 21

Waco, TX

11:00 AM

Florida Gators

NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships (Rnd of 32)

Kuhlman Moves On, Austin and Keegan Advance in Doubles

Friday, May 22, 2015 | Women's Tennis

WACO, Texas – Freshman Josie Kuhlman continued her run in the NCAA Singles Championship with a Round of 32 win, and No. 6-ranked duo Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan won their first match of the NCAA Doubles Championship at the Hurd Tennis Center of Baylor University in Waco, Texas Thursday evening.

Kuhlman reached the Round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 17 Viktoriya Lushkova, Oklahoma State's No. 1 singles player.

“It was a great match,” Kuhlman remarked. “I had played her twice in the fall and lost to her, so coming in I was really excited to get her back. I just fought hard for every point and did the best that I could.”

Florida's top doubles pairing advanced to the Round of 16, when they defeated Arizona's No. 27-ranked Shayne Austin and Briar Preston, 6-2, 6-2.

“I thought we played well,” said Austin. “We played really aggressively. They were a good team and they got a lot of balls back. I think it was good that we played against a team like that.”

Keegan agreed that the first match was a good experience for the young pairing.

“I don't think that it's always easy, the first match of a tournament, especially the NCAAs, getting into a rhythm. I think we were able to do that really well with our serves and volleys. Getting the lead early helps you relax a lot. There's not as much pressure on your shots. You just feel more comfortable out there, and I think that helps a lot because you get more momentum that way.”

SINGLES

Freshman No. 13 Josie Kuhlman (9-16) (Ponte Vedra, Fla.)

Second Round: def. No. 17 Viktoriya Lushkova, Oklahoma State, 6-3, 6-4

Round of 16 Opponent: No. 4 Maegan Manasse (4), California

Match Time: 11 a.m.

Kuhlman's Career Singles Record: 35-10

Sophomore No. 58 Belinda Woolcock (Melbourne, Australia)

Second Round: lost to No. 24 Sabrina Santamaria, USC, 6-3, 6-3

Woolcock's Career Singles Record: 56-20

2014-15 Singles Record: 28-11

NCAA Singles Appearance: First

DOUBLES