ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Florida men's tennis team earned its fourth win of the season with a 4-2 victory over 13th-ranked Michigan on Friday night.
 
The Gators (4-1) switched up the doubles lineup to give Michigan (3-2) a different look. At No. 1 singles was the fifth-ranked duo of McClain Kessler and Duarte Vale while Alfredo Perez paired with Oliver Crawford at No. 2 and Johannes Ingildsen teamed with Chase Perez-Blanco at No. 3.
 
At No. 3 Ingildsen and Perez-Blanco looked as if they had been playing as a pair their entire career. The duo breezed its way to a quick 6-0 victory. The other two doubles matches didn't come as easy for the Gators. After dropping the No. 2 doubles match 6-4, it came down to Kessler and Vale at No. 1 singles. The pair trailed late in the match 5-4 but with their teammates cheering them on, the duo clawed its way back to tie the match at six all. In the tiebreak the two teams traded points to 6-6 until Florida was able to score the decisive seventh point, earning the win and the 1-0 lead for the Gators heading into singles.
 
Florida started slow in singles play, falling behind in the first set of multiple matches. Ingildsen had the strongest performance for the Gators at the No. 2 spot with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the No.42 ranked singles athletes in the ITA rankings. Both No. 1 and No. 3 singles provided highly anticipated matchups with multiple top 10 rankings.
 
At No. 1 singles Perez took on third-ranked Alex Knight while Vale took on 113th-ranked Myles Schalet. After Vale took the first set of his match 6-3 he dropped the second 3-6 but rebounded nicely to capture the third set 6-2 and earn the Gators a point. Florida clinched the match at the No. 1 spot where Perez earned the upset bid. The match didn't start as Perez had planned as he dropped the first set 3-6, but after regrouping he battled to take the final two sets by scores of 6-3 and 6-2.
 
Although they didn't finish Andy Andrade's match at No. 5 singles, the freshman showed great toughness. After losing the first set 0-6, he didn't quite and took the second set 7-6. He carried the momentum he earned into the third set and held a 2-1 lead before the match was stopped following Perez's clinching win.
 
Quoting Coach Shelton
On the teams great showing in doubles
"Great team win tonight in a very hostile environment. The crowd was laying into us and I could not be more proud of the fight we showed. The doubles point was incredible, and Duarte and McClain came up with the right answers to beat a very good Michigan team at number one doubles."

On the teams slow start in singles, but strong finish
"Going down a set in four singles matches gave Michigan momentum, but Johannes put a point on the board and then we took control of the match at one, three, and five singles. What a great feeling to win indoors in that environment. It doesn't get any easier on Sunday when we go to Ohio State, but we will get ready for them tomorrow."
 
Quoting Ingildsen
On strong play in doubles with a new partner in Chase
"Chase and I have good chemistry outside the court. It's fun to play with him. We played very well today. From the beginning to the end we played very aggressive."

On playing a team that always plays indoors and making the adjustments to succeed
"Well I grew up playing indoors 9 months a year. It doesn't take me long to adjust too indoors. It is never easy to play on the road but I think I stayed very composed today."

Match Results
Doubles
(1) – #5 McClain Kessler / Duarte Vale (UF) def. #9 Alex Knight / Runhao Hua - 7-6 
(2) – Myles Schalet / Connor Johnston def. Alfredo Perez / Oliver Crawford (UF) – 6-4
(3) – Johannes Ingildsen (UF) / Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Gabe Tishman / Nick Beaty (UM) – 6-0
Florida won Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
(1) – #9 Alfredo Perez (UF) def. #3 Alex Knight (UM) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-2*
(2) – #7 Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. #42 Runhao Hua – 6-2, 6-3
(3) – #43 Duarte Vale (UF) def. #113 Myles Schalet (UM) – 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
(4) – Mattias Siimar (UM) def. Oliver Crawford (UF) – 6-3, 6-4
(5) – Andy Andrade (UF) vs Carter Lin (UM) – 0-6, 7-6(5), 2-1 DNF
(6) – Davis Crocker (UM) def. Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) – 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 4, 6, 2, 3, 1*
*Clincher
 
Up Next
No. 11 Florida will continue their Big Ten road trip on Sunday when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 2 Ohio State at noon. This will be the Gators third straight match against an ITA top 25 team, and their first match against a top 5 team this season.
 
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