Saturday, January 21
Gainesville, FL
10:00 AM
Florida Gators
7
vs
0
Georgia Southern
Photo: Courtney Culbreath / UAA Communications
Doubleheader Sweep a Good Start to Establishing Identity
Saturday, January 21, 2017 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's tennis team wanted to establish its identity in the first match of the season, and the Gators did just that on Saturday. Florida swept both Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State at home to prove it means business in 2017.
A quick 7-0 rout of Georgia Southern set the pace for Florida and the Gators were able to turn around and do it all over again against a tough Kennesaw State team. Playing through some first-match jitters, tough competition and even a good amount of wind wasn't anything the Gators couldn't handle.
For freshman Johannes Ingildsen, this was his first chance to really prove to himself, his teammates and his competition the kind of potential force he can be in his collegiate career. He and sophomore Alfredo Perez clinched the doubles point against Kennesaw State with a 6-3 win, proving the ITA had it right when it gave the pair the No. 3 ranking in the country. The two also faced some tough competition in the singles round, ending each game in a three-set tiebreaker to keep the Gators' perfect record intact.
For seniors like Elliott Orkin and Maxx Lipman and redshirt junior Joshua Wardell, this season will be a chance for them to leave behind their legacies as Florida Gators, and prove to everyone what their work over the last three years has all been for.
The Gators will take the week to gear up for their home match, which is against UNC Wilmington on January 28th as a part of the ITA Kick Off Weekend. Using the momentum from these two big wins will prove crucial when the team begins playing one of the toughest dual match schedules the program has seen in a long time.
Head Coach Bryan Shelton
"It felt good to get the first win of the season. Georgia Southern has a good team, and it was good to see us have to work for the first one."
On how the team handled this double header…
"It's definitely a challenge to play two matches in a day, two doubles and two singles, and emotionally getting up for one and then finishing a match then having to calm down, get something to eat and then recover to jump right back out there and do it again."
On what this win means for the rest of the season…
"I think that we're establishing ourselves, especially in the SEC but even in the country as a team that other teams want to beat. They see us as a potential good win. So for us, it's having that mentality that we're going to take their best shot. We also get to play the underdog role plenty this season as we go up against Ohio State, Virginia, USC, UCLA, Georgia and so many of the top teams that we have on our schedule. So we'll get to play both roles, which is great, because I think that's how you develop dealing with different types of pressure."
On Elliott Orkin leading the team…
"He's been a consistent force for us. This is his fourth year here and he approaches every day the same and he's very consistent. I think that type of leader really helps a program like ours because they know what they're going to get from him on a daily basis, whether it's in practice or in the locker room or on the court, we know what we're going to get. He's going to come out there and give 100 percent; he's a good player who's going to win a high percentage of matches for us and he's going to do it the right way with good character. I think those are the things that you want in your captain and a leader, is a guy that's going to do the right things at the right time and show good character and really reflect well on the whole program so that our younger guys see an example of what a Florida Gator is supposed to look like."
On Chase Perez-Blanco's play in the first match…
"I think the one guy that played the best today was Chase Perez-Blanco, not only did he play well but he brought a lot of energy to the match. I'm really pleased with what he and all the guys brought today, whether they played or were cheering on the sidelines I felt like everybody participated in this win."
"I thought the guy he played from Georgia Southern brought a lot of good stuff, but Chase was able to match it shot for shot and then get ahead in the points and finish. He did that consistently for two sets in singles and I thought he did a really good job in the doubles, especially in returning."
Senior Elliott Orkin
"We knew it was going to be a long day, it's never easy playing two matches in one day, two doubles matches and two singles matches, it's a lot. But we've been putting in a lot of time at the gym and on the court just getting ready and getting prepared physically for this. I don't think any of us came into this today expecting to play perfect tennis since it's our first match, but we just wanted to come out and have fun and enjoy playing at home in front of our crowd."
Junior Chase Perez-Blanco
"Overall I felt good, I felt like I played well and I brought a lot of energy, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I felt really confident out there."
Results
Florida 7, Georgia Southern 0
Gainesville, Fla. | 10 AM
Match 1
Doubles
1 – Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. Amari/Finkelstein (GS) 6-0
2 – Perez-Blanco/Lipman (UF) def. Casablancas/Landin (GS) 6-1
3 – Orkin/Kessler (UF) vs. Alcala/McCullough (GS) – DNP
Singles
1 – Alfredo Perez (UF) def. JC Alcala (GS) 6-4, 6-1
2 – Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Dani Casablancas (GS) 6-1, 6-1
3 – Elliott Orkin (UF) def. Eddie Landin (GS) 6-4, 6-3
4 – McClain Kessler (UF) def. Santiago Suarez (GS) 6-3, 7-5
5 – Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Artemie Amari (GS) 6-1, 6-1
6 – Maxx Lipman (UF) def. Stefano Di Aloy (GS) 6-2, 6-3
Florida 7, Kennesaw State 0
Gainesville, Fla. | 3 PM
Match 2
Doubles
1 – Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. Durham/Wendel (KSU) 6-3
2 – Lipman/Wardell (UF) def. Barcelo/Pritchard (KSU) 6-4
3 – Orkin/Kessler (UF) def. Bouchillon/Slade (KSU) 6-1
Singles
1 – Alfredo Perez (UF) def. Simon Pritchard (KSU) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
2 – Elliott Orkin (UF) def. Sam Slade (KSU) 6-3, 6-1
3 – McClain Kessler (UF) def. Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
4 – Jordan Belga (UF) def. David Durham (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
5 – Maxx Lipman (UF) def. Jake Bouchillon (KSU) 6-2, 6-1
6 – Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Drew Lahey (KSU) 6-1, 6-7, 1-0
Next Match
Florida vs. UNC Wilmington
ITA Kick Off Weekend
Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla. | 11 a.m.
Follow the Gators
Join the conversation: Tweet #GoGators
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
FloridaGators.com
A quick 7-0 rout of Georgia Southern set the pace for Florida and the Gators were able to turn around and do it all over again against a tough Kennesaw State team. Playing through some first-match jitters, tough competition and even a good amount of wind wasn't anything the Gators couldn't handle.
For freshman Johannes Ingildsen, this was his first chance to really prove to himself, his teammates and his competition the kind of potential force he can be in his collegiate career. He and sophomore Alfredo Perez clinched the doubles point against Kennesaw State with a 6-3 win, proving the ITA had it right when it gave the pair the No. 3 ranking in the country. The two also faced some tough competition in the singles round, ending each game in a three-set tiebreaker to keep the Gators' perfect record intact.
For seniors like Elliott Orkin and Maxx Lipman and redshirt junior Joshua Wardell, this season will be a chance for them to leave behind their legacies as Florida Gators, and prove to everyone what their work over the last three years has all been for.
The Gators will take the week to gear up for their home match, which is against UNC Wilmington on January 28th as a part of the ITA Kick Off Weekend. Using the momentum from these two big wins will prove crucial when the team begins playing one of the toughest dual match schedules the program has seen in a long time.
Head Coach Bryan Shelton
"It felt good to get the first win of the season. Georgia Southern has a good team, and it was good to see us have to work for the first one."
On how the team handled this double header…
"It's definitely a challenge to play two matches in a day, two doubles and two singles, and emotionally getting up for one and then finishing a match then having to calm down, get something to eat and then recover to jump right back out there and do it again."
On what this win means for the rest of the season…
"I think that we're establishing ourselves, especially in the SEC but even in the country as a team that other teams want to beat. They see us as a potential good win. So for us, it's having that mentality that we're going to take their best shot. We also get to play the underdog role plenty this season as we go up against Ohio State, Virginia, USC, UCLA, Georgia and so many of the top teams that we have on our schedule. So we'll get to play both roles, which is great, because I think that's how you develop dealing with different types of pressure."
On Elliott Orkin leading the team…
"He's been a consistent force for us. This is his fourth year here and he approaches every day the same and he's very consistent. I think that type of leader really helps a program like ours because they know what they're going to get from him on a daily basis, whether it's in practice or in the locker room or on the court, we know what we're going to get. He's going to come out there and give 100 percent; he's a good player who's going to win a high percentage of matches for us and he's going to do it the right way with good character. I think those are the things that you want in your captain and a leader, is a guy that's going to do the right things at the right time and show good character and really reflect well on the whole program so that our younger guys see an example of what a Florida Gator is supposed to look like."
On Chase Perez-Blanco's play in the first match…
"I think the one guy that played the best today was Chase Perez-Blanco, not only did he play well but he brought a lot of energy to the match. I'm really pleased with what he and all the guys brought today, whether they played or were cheering on the sidelines I felt like everybody participated in this win."
"I thought the guy he played from Georgia Southern brought a lot of good stuff, but Chase was able to match it shot for shot and then get ahead in the points and finish. He did that consistently for two sets in singles and I thought he did a really good job in the doubles, especially in returning."
Senior Elliott Orkin
"We knew it was going to be a long day, it's never easy playing two matches in one day, two doubles matches and two singles matches, it's a lot. But we've been putting in a lot of time at the gym and on the court just getting ready and getting prepared physically for this. I don't think any of us came into this today expecting to play perfect tennis since it's our first match, but we just wanted to come out and have fun and enjoy playing at home in front of our crowd."
Junior Chase Perez-Blanco
"Overall I felt good, I felt like I played well and I brought a lot of energy, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I felt really confident out there."
Results
Florida 7, Georgia Southern 0
Gainesville, Fla. | 10 AM
Match 1
Doubles
1 – Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. Amari/Finkelstein (GS) 6-0
2 – Perez-Blanco/Lipman (UF) def. Casablancas/Landin (GS) 6-1
3 – Orkin/Kessler (UF) vs. Alcala/McCullough (GS) – DNP
Singles
1 – Alfredo Perez (UF) def. JC Alcala (GS) 6-4, 6-1
2 – Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Dani Casablancas (GS) 6-1, 6-1
3 – Elliott Orkin (UF) def. Eddie Landin (GS) 6-4, 6-3
4 – McClain Kessler (UF) def. Santiago Suarez (GS) 6-3, 7-5
5 – Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Artemie Amari (GS) 6-1, 6-1
6 – Maxx Lipman (UF) def. Stefano Di Aloy (GS) 6-2, 6-3
Florida 7, Kennesaw State 0
Gainesville, Fla. | 3 PM
Match 2
Doubles
1 – Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. Durham/Wendel (KSU) 6-3
2 – Lipman/Wardell (UF) def. Barcelo/Pritchard (KSU) 6-4
3 – Orkin/Kessler (UF) def. Bouchillon/Slade (KSU) 6-1
Singles
1 – Alfredo Perez (UF) def. Simon Pritchard (KSU) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
2 – Elliott Orkin (UF) def. Sam Slade (KSU) 6-3, 6-1
3 – McClain Kessler (UF) def. Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
4 – Jordan Belga (UF) def. David Durham (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
5 – Maxx Lipman (UF) def. Jake Bouchillon (KSU) 6-2, 6-1
6 – Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Drew Lahey (KSU) 6-1, 6-7, 1-0
Next Match
Florida vs. UNC Wilmington
ITA Kick Off Weekend
Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla. | 11 a.m.
Follow the Gators
Join the conversation: Tweet #GoGators
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
FloridaGators.com
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