INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – The first day of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Fall National Championships presented by Oracle came to a close, with the Gators finding success in both singles and doubles.

Alfredo Perez got the first day of the fall national championships underway in dramatic fashion. No. 9 Perez was locked in a battle from the start with UC Santa Barbara's Nicolas Moreno de Alboran, trailing 5-2 early in the first set. Following the slow start, Perez flipped a switch and scored the next four points to take a 6-5 lead. After Moreno de Alboran tied the set at six, Perez was able to outlast the UCSB Gaucho 7-6 (5). The second set wasn't any different as Perez traded points with Moreno de Alboran before finally taking the final two points in the second set 7-6(8).

Johannes Ingildsen was the only other Gator competing in singles at the championship event. In the first round of the tournament, Ingildsen took on Alex Lebedev of Notre Dame. Ingildsen dropped the first set 6-1 and fell behind early in the second set 5-1. Ingildsen battle back in the set to pull within a point of Lebedev but was unable to win the set, falling 7-5.

Doubles has been a strength for the Gators this fall and on the first day of competition that proved true once again.

The seventh-seeded duo of McClain Kessler and Duarte Vale were the first pair to go for Florida on Monday. Kessler and Vale took on Northern Arizona's duo of Tim Handel / Ruben Montano. Kessler and Vale were able to outlast Handel and Montano for a 7-5 first set win. With the momentum in their favor for set two, Kessler and Vale were able to take the second set, and the match, 6-2.

Perez and Ingildsen, the top seed in the tournament took on Seraphim and Julian Zlobinsky of Wake Forest, earning a 6-3 first set win. The second set was much closer as neither team was able to pull away, playing to a 6-6 tiebreak. In the tiebreak Perez and Ingildsen though found their touch in the tiebreak, jumping out to a 5-2 lead before taking the set 7-6 (2) and advancing to the second round.

Chase Perez-Blanco ad Oliver Crawford was matched up against Chema Carranza and Josef Dodridge of Wisconsin. Perez-Blanco and Crawford took the first 6-4 but after dropping the second set 6-3 they went to the tiebreak. The Gator pair battled in the tiebreak but fell 10-7.

Coach Shelton on the ITA Fall National Championships
"We battled hard today in both singles and doubles. It was good to see Alfredo figure it out. Johannes ran into a very tough opponent but proud of the way he fought back. Winning two out of three doubles was also good. Looking forward to another productive day tomorrow."

Day One Results
Singles Main Draw
Round of 64
(9) Perez def. Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) – 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8)
(12) Ingildsen lost to Lebedev (Notre Dame) – 6-1, 7-5
Doubles
Round of 32
(1) Perez/Ingildsen def. Seraphim/Zlobinsky (WF) – 6-3, 7-6 (2)
(7) Kessler/Vale def. Hande/Montano (UNA) – 7-5, 6-2
Perez-Blanco/Crawford lost to Carranza/Dodridge (Wisconsin) – 6-4, 6-3, 10-7
 
Schedule of Events for Thursday, Nov. 2
Singles Round of 32
Consolation Singles Round of 32
Doubles Round of 16
Consolation Doubles Round of 16
 
Follow the Gator
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators