Gators Launch SEC Schedule in Magnolia State

Thursday, March 1

Oxford, MS

6 PM

Florida Gators

Ole Miss

Florida is set for the SEC portion of its season.

Gators Launch SEC Schedule in Magnolia State

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Florida plays at No. 7 Ole Miss on Thursday and at Mississippi State Saturday.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

OXFORD, Miss. – The Gators continue their nine-match road swing this week while playing their Southeastern Conference opener, as Florida faces No. 7 Ole Miss on Thursday and Mississippi State on Saturday.

The Gators (5-4) aim to continue their momentum from last weekend's pair of 4-3 thrilling victories against Saint Mary's and Stanford.

SEC Coaches' Preseason Poll, As voted on by the league's 14 coaches:
Team - Points
1. Georgia - 184
2. Florida - 174
3. Vanderbilt - 171
4. South Carolina - 140
5. Auburn - 138
6. Arkansas - 116
7. Ole Miss - 107
8. LSU - 101
9. Kentucky - 95
10. Texas A&M - 73
11. Tennessee - 61
12. Mississippi State - 47
13. Alabama -34
14. Missouri - 16

A Glance at Thursday's Match vs. No. 7 Ole Miss (9-1, 0-0 SEC)

When: Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.
Where: Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center * Oxford, Miss.
Just in Case: Weather permitting, the match will be played outdoors with live streaming video and scoring available. If weather becomes an issue, the match will move indoors at the Ole Miss Indoor Tennis Center and only live scoring will be available online.
Series: Florida leads the all-time series against Ole Miss, 45-3, including a 17-2 record in Oxford.
Last Meeting: The Gators won last year's regular-season bout, 4-0, on April 7 in Gainesville.
Current Streak: Florida has won the last 11 meetings against Ole Miss. The Rebels' last win in the series was a 4-3 decision on March 27, 2009.
Team Ranking: The Rebels are ranked No. 7 in the current ITA national rankings.
Individual Rankings: Singles – No. 16 Arianne Hartono, No. 58 Tea Jandric, No. 115 Sabina Machalova; Doubles - No. 10 Arianne Hartono & Alexa Bortles, No. 45 Sabina Machalova & Natalie Suk
Of Note: The Rebels and won their last five matches and the team's 9-1 start is the best in program history.
Live Scoring & Video: http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/w-tennis/spec-rel/live-video.html

A Glance at Saturday's Match vs. Mississippi State (8-2, 0-0 SEC)

Where: A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre * Starkville, Miss.
Just in Case: Weather permitting, the match will be played outdoors with live streaming video and scoring available. If weather becomes an issue, the match will move indoors at the Ole Miss Indoor Tennis Center and only live scoring will be available online.

Series: Florida has won all 38 meetings, including 19 in Starkville, against Mississippi State in the series that began in 1983.
Last Meeting: The teams met twice last season and the Gators won both, including the 4-2 victory in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on April 21, 2017.
Team Ranking: The Bulldogs are not ranked in the current ITA national rankings.
Individual Rankings: Singles – No. 112 Magda Adaloglou
Of Note: MSU has won six consecutive dual matches entering Thursday's match against South Carolina.
Live Video & Scoring: http://www.hailstate.com/livewt

A Glance at the Gators (5-4)

On the Road: Thursday's match represents Florida's eighth consecutive road match. The Gators are 3-4 during this stretch away from Gainesville.

Team Ranking: The Gators are No. 34 the current ITA national rankings.
Individual Rankings: Singles – No. 9 Anna Danilina, No. 46 Josie Kuhlman, No. 100 Victoria Emma; Doubles – No. 51 Danilina & Emma
Of Note: Florida's six-member roster features three seniors and three true freshmen.

Quoting UF Coach Roland Thornqvist:
On the SEC this season:
"The SEC is brutal this year. This is the most balanced I've seen in my 17 years at Florida. Last year, we didn't win the league and we won the national championship. I think this year could be the same. There could be as many as four or five teams that could win the league and four or five can do really well nationally."

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