Gators End 2016 Season in NCAA Quarterfinals

Sunday, May 22

Tulsa, Okla.

1:00 PM

Florida Gators

Virginia-Quarterfinals

The 2016 Florida Gators squad ended the season with a 21-7 record.

Gators End 2016 Season in NCAA Quarterfinals

Sunday, May 22, 2016 | Men's Tennis

By: Grace Duggan

TULSA, Okla. – The University of Florida men's tennis team ended the 2016 campaign with a 4-0 loss to the No. 1-ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Gators finish the 2016 with a record of 21-7, including a 10-2 record in SEC play and the program's fifth SEC tournament title.

For the first time in 13 matches, the Gators dropped the doubles point with losses on courts one and three. In singles action, the Gators fell on three courts to give the Cavaliers the 4-0 sweep. Freshman McClain Kessler fell 6-4, 6-2 on court six. Junior Elliott Orkin was defeated by the No. 9-ranked Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, 7-6(2), 6-2 on court three. In the end, Chase Perez-Blanco fell at the hands of the No. 78-ranked Alexander Ritschard, 6-3, 7-6(4) on court four to seal the Cavaliers victory.

The Gators will return seven members of the 2016 squad for 2017 with the addition of three new members. Seniors Diego Hidalgo and Gordon Watson still have tennis to play in the Orange and Blue in the NCAA Individual Doubles Championships that are set to begin on Wednesday, May 25. Freshman Alfredo Perez, Orkin and Hidalgo will also compete in the NCAA Individual Singles Championships.

Head Coach Bryan Shelton
On the match today…
"I thought UVA came out and played really well today, it started in the doubles. When we played them in the season we were able to get that doubles point. They came out really strong today, serving well and really playing aggressively. I felt like they were just able to get off to a better start today and once they seized the momentum, they were able hold on to it throughout the singles. Our guys had an incredible year, I felt like we got better throughout the whole season and obviously in the postseason winning the SEC title, as well as, making a good run here (NCAA Championships) up to this point. I feel like we have a solid foundation, and solid core and looking forward to just continuing it next season with this group. Just proud of my seniors, who gave us so much throughout the season this year, Diego (Hidalgo) and Gordon (Watson). I'm really excited about the individual tournament and opportunities that lie ahead there."

Final Results
#1 Virginia 4, #9 Florida 0
Doubles-Order of Finish: 1, 3*

#4 Luca Corinteli/Ryan Shane (Virginia) def. #1 Diego Hidalgo/Gordon Watson (Florida), 6-3
#16 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski/Mac Styslinger (Virginia) vs. #80 Maxx Lipman/Elliott Orkin (Florida), 5-5 DNF
Collin Altamirano/J.C. Aragone (Virginia) def. Alfredo Perez/Chase Perez-Blanco (Florida), 6-3

Singles-Order of Finish: 6, 3, 4*

#8 Ryan Shane (Virginia) vs. #10 Diego Hidalgo (Florida), 6-3, 4-6, 3-1 DNF
#33 Collin Altamirano (Virginia) vs. #53 Alfredo Perez (Florida), 6-4, 5-4 DNF
#9 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Virginia) def. #37 Elliott Orkin (Florida), 7-6 (2), 6-2
#78 Alexander Ritschard (Virginia) def. #120 Chase Perez-Blanco (Florida), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
#110 J.C. Aragone (Virginia) vs. Gordon Watson (Florida), 7-6 (2), 4-6, 2-2 DNF
Henrik Wiersholm (Virginia) def. McClain Kessler (Florida), 6-4, 6-2