Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida defeated Florida International, 4-0, in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship match on Sunday and in the process posted the 1,000th victory in the 45-year history of the program.
 
As the winner of the Gainesville regional, Florida earns a berth to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships held February 10-13 in New Haven, Conn.
 
During Sunday's match played at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex, the Gators again came out strong on the doubles courts, where Florida captured wins on courts two and three, 6-2 and 6-1, respectively, to take the initial point of the dual match.
 
Josie Kuhlman saw her first singles action in dual match competition on Sunday and picked up where she left off from a strong Fall season, posting a 6-0, 6-2 victory in 57 minutes that gave the Gators a 2-0 lead.
 
Brooke Austin was next off the court with a 7-6, 6-1 win for her inaugural dual match win of the season.
 
Kourtney Keegan, also competing in her first singles dual match of the year, provided the clinching point after her 7-5, 6-1 decision.
 
Florida led on the remaining three singles courts when play was halted.
 
Updated Records:

• Florida: 2-0
• FIU: 2-1

 
Numbers of Note:

• Today's win was the 1,000th in program history. The all-time record is 1,000-145 (87.3 winning percentage) in 45 seasons.
• The win also was the 449th career victory for UF head coach Roland Thornqvist, who sports a 374-47 record in 16 years with the Gators.
• Florida improved to 9-0 all-time against FIU.
• This was the 26th consecutive win against an instate opponent (204-33 all-time)

 
The Gators at Home

• Overall Home Win Streak: 161 - it is the longest active home winning streak of any NCAA Division I Team in any sport (includes 26 wins in SEC and NCAA Tournament matches).
• The last time the Gators lost at home was on May 15, 2004, in the NCAA Second Round to Miami (Fla.), 4-3.
• Regular-Season Home Win Streak: 158 (last regular-season loss at home was on April 7, 2002, to Georgia, 4-3)

 
What's Next for the Gators:

• Florida travels to the West Coast for its next two matches, February 3 and 4.
• February 3: at Southern California – 4:30 p.m. ET
• February 4: at Pepperdine – 3 p.m. ET

 
 
Postmatch Thoughts from UF Head Coach Roland Thornqvist:
"I was really happy with today. We had to go deep into some sets on almost every single court and we were tested at 5-all and tiebreaks. Everybody had to dig deep and that's exactly what we needed to help us prepare for our upcoming trip to California.
 
"FIU is a very physical team and they are going to have a very good year. We were tested deep in sets and we had to find a way out of it. I'm happy with that. That's the only way we can play better.
 
"At this point in the season, I'm pretty happy with where we are. In doubles again, we were pretty efficient."
 
Gator Pronunciations

• Anna Danilina: ON-nah don-uh-LEE-nah
• Josie Kuhlman: COOL-mun
• Spencer Liang: LEE-aang

 
 
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