Sunday, January 17
Gainesville, FL
11:00 AM
Florida Gators
vs
Troy (DH)
The No. 24-ranked Florida Gators men's tennis team opens the 2016 season on Sunday
No. 24 Florida Opens 2016 Season with Doubleheader Sunday
Saturday, January 16, 2016 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 24-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team kicks off their 2016 season with the No. 63-ranked Troy Trojans and the Stetson Hatters on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. Head coach Bryan Shelton enters his fourth season at the helm.
UF opens the season ranked No. 24 in the Oracle ITA Division I men's rankings and are picked to finish second in the SEC by league coaches. Five Gators and two doubles tandems have been selected to the preseason rankings. Captains Diego Hidalgo and Elliott Orkin lead the Gators in singles rankings sitting at No. 31 and No. 49, respectively. Hidalgo and fellow senior Gordon Watson have tallied their highest doubles ranking at No. 3 in the preseason polls.
Additionally ranked for the Orange and Blue are Chase Perez Blanco (62), Alfredo Perez (91) and McClain Kessler (97). Juniors Orkin and Maxx Lipman sit at No. 40 in the doubles ranking.
Looking Back at 2015
UF hopes to build upon a 2015 season that saw the Gators fall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Pepperdine, 4-3. Florida finished tied for fourth in the final SEC standings and No. 25 in the final ITA Rankings of 2015.
Familiar Faces for 2016
UF returned seven players from the 2015 season. After a successful fall season, seniors Hidalgo and Watson have proven to be a force to be reckoned with on the doubles courts. In the semifinal of the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional in Gainesville, the Gator tandem defeated the former No. 1-ranked doubles team in Georgia's Wagland and Smith. Additionally, Orkin and Perez-Blanco continued to cultivate their skills on the singles courts. UF also welcomes back sophomore Jordan Belga, Lipman and Josh Wardell.
Newcomers in 2016
Freshmen Perez and Kessler have already made their mark on this UF men's tennis team. The duo competed in doubles together in the fall and broke into the Oracle ITA preseason singles rankings that were released on Jan. 5.
Success in Season-Opening Matches
UF has started 3-0 or better in each of its past five seasons, including 6-0 starts in 2011 and 2013. Florida has not lost its opening match in 27 years, dating back to 1988 against Indiana.
Tough Competitors for the Gators in 2016
UF will face 11 of the Top-35 teams in the Oracle ITA preseason rankings, including familiar SEC foe No. 7-ranked Georgia, No. 8-ranked USC and No, 10-ranked Ohio State all on the road. Alfred A. Ring will also play host to the defending NCAA Champions in the Virginia Cavaliers on Wednesday, April 6.
Last Time Out
The Orange and Blue hold a 1-0 all-time record against the Troy Trojans. In the first meeting between the teams last season, the Gators defeated the Trojans, 5-3 on Jan. 16, 2015. Florida also leads the all-time series against Stetson, 31-1-1.
Florida vs. Troy and Stetson
Sunday, January 17 at 11 a.m.
Scott Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex (Free admission, free parking)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/florida/mten/xlive.htm
Follow the Gators:
FloridaGators.com
Facebook
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UF opens the season ranked No. 24 in the Oracle ITA Division I men's rankings and are picked to finish second in the SEC by league coaches. Five Gators and two doubles tandems have been selected to the preseason rankings. Captains Diego Hidalgo and Elliott Orkin lead the Gators in singles rankings sitting at No. 31 and No. 49, respectively. Hidalgo and fellow senior Gordon Watson have tallied their highest doubles ranking at No. 3 in the preseason polls.
Additionally ranked for the Orange and Blue are Chase Perez Blanco (62), Alfredo Perez (91) and McClain Kessler (97). Juniors Orkin and Maxx Lipman sit at No. 40 in the doubles ranking.
Looking Back at 2015
UF hopes to build upon a 2015 season that saw the Gators fall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Pepperdine, 4-3. Florida finished tied for fourth in the final SEC standings and No. 25 in the final ITA Rankings of 2015.
Familiar Faces for 2016
UF returned seven players from the 2015 season. After a successful fall season, seniors Hidalgo and Watson have proven to be a force to be reckoned with on the doubles courts. In the semifinal of the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional in Gainesville, the Gator tandem defeated the former No. 1-ranked doubles team in Georgia's Wagland and Smith. Additionally, Orkin and Perez-Blanco continued to cultivate their skills on the singles courts. UF also welcomes back sophomore Jordan Belga, Lipman and Josh Wardell.
Newcomers in 2016
Freshmen Perez and Kessler have already made their mark on this UF men's tennis team. The duo competed in doubles together in the fall and broke into the Oracle ITA preseason singles rankings that were released on Jan. 5.
Success in Season-Opening Matches
UF has started 3-0 or better in each of its past five seasons, including 6-0 starts in 2011 and 2013. Florida has not lost its opening match in 27 years, dating back to 1988 against Indiana.
Tough Competitors for the Gators in 2016
UF will face 11 of the Top-35 teams in the Oracle ITA preseason rankings, including familiar SEC foe No. 7-ranked Georgia, No. 8-ranked USC and No, 10-ranked Ohio State all on the road. Alfred A. Ring will also play host to the defending NCAA Champions in the Virginia Cavaliers on Wednesday, April 6.
Last Time Out
The Orange and Blue hold a 1-0 all-time record against the Troy Trojans. In the first meeting between the teams last season, the Gators defeated the Trojans, 5-3 on Jan. 16, 2015. Florida also leads the all-time series against Stetson, 31-1-1.
Florida vs. Troy and Stetson
Sunday, January 17 at 11 a.m.
Scott Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex (Free admission, free parking)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/florida/mten/xlive.htm
Follow the Gators:
FloridaGators.com
Players Mentioned
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