GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 18 Florida (7-4, 2-0 SEC) stayed perfect in SEC play with their 6-1 victory over No. 25 Tennessee (11-3, 1-1 SEC) Sunday afternoon at the Ring Tennis Complex.
 
For the second match in a row, and sixth time this season, the Gators used the momentum of the crucial doubles point to their advantage. On court two McClain Kessler and Duarte Vale played one of their best matches of the season with a dominating 6-1 victory. The Gators clinched the doubles point on court three as Chase Perez-Blanco and Oliver Crawford earned a 6-4 decision. It was Perez-Blanco and Crawford's second straight doubles point clincher.
 
The outcome in singles wasn't much different from that of doubles with an overall strong showing as a team. Florida won five of the six singles points including two assertive victories from Johannes Ingildsen at the No. 2 spot (6-1, 6-3) and Oliver Crawford at the No. 4 spot (6-1, 6-0). With the Gators leading 3-1 in the match the clinching point came on court five when Andy Andrade earned his sixth singles win of the season with a 6-4, 6-3 decision.
 
With the match already won, Florida and Tennessee decided to finish the final two matches on court three and six. On court three Duarte Vale won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and on court six Perez-Blanco won 6-2, 5-7, 10-4.
 
Quoting Coach Shelton
On weekend successful of doubles
"We put the combinations that we originally started with back together again. We put Alfredo and Joe back together again and Oliver and Chase back together and both of those teams have won a lot of matches both in the fall and in the spring. It's pretty comfortable fits and we know that the chemistry is really good there."
 
On avoiding a letdown after Friday's big win over Georgia
"I showed the guys a few messages I received from some former players. Diego Hidalgo sent me one that said don't stop now coach, we've got to finish out the weekend and Billy Federhofer, who was on my very first team here, sent the same message and said I remember when we beat Texas A&M and then went and lost to South Carolina."
 
"I think players who have experience know the traps. So sharing that with this group kind of sobered them up a bit and they understood that we are going to be facing adversity and a tough test. We've got a team coming in [Tennessee] that is also 1-0 in conference and think that if we knock [Florida] off we are off and running."
 
Quoting Johannes
On avoiding a letdown against Tennessee
"Before the match, we talked about really respecting Tennessee because they are a good team, and after a big win Friday we knew we couldn't sleep on these guys and still compete hard."
 
On 50th career singles match wins
"It just takes a lot of matches. Have to compete really hard all the time because the competition is very tough. I'm proud of myself for getting to 50 wins as a sophomore."
 
Gator Notables
• Florida starts 2-0 in conference play for the first time under head coach Bryan Shelton
• Ingildsen earned his 50th career singles victory with his 6-1, 6-3 win over Preston Touliatous
• Ingildsen also improved to 7-1 in singles this season
• Florida is now 4-4 against teams ranked in the ITA Top 25
• The Gators improved to 6-0 when winning the doubles point
• Florida is now 5-0 at home this season
• Andrade clinched his second career match. Previously did it against South Florida
• Crawford has won three consecutive matches. Had one unfinished match during that span
 
Match Results
Doubles
(1) #1 Perez/Ingildsen (UF) vs Luis Valero/Preston Touliatos (UT) – 4-4 DNF
(2) #9 Kessler/Vale (UF) def. Nicaise Muamba/Andrew Rogers (UT) – 6-1
(3) #7 Perez-Blanco/Crawford (UF) def. Scott Jones/Timo Stodder (UT) – 6-4
Florida won Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Singles
(1) #25 Timo Stodder (UT) def. #10 Alfredo Perez (UF) – 6-1, 6-1
(2) #9 Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Preston Touliatos (UT) – 6-1, 6-3
(3) #59 Duarte Vale (UF) def. Adam Walton (UT) – 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
(4) Oliver Crawford (UF) def. Luis Valero (UT) – 6-1, 6-0
(5) #94 Andy Andrade (UF) def. Nicaise Muamba (UT) – 6-4, 6-3*
(6) Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Scott Jones (UT) – 6-2, 5-7, 10-4
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2, 5*, 6, 3
*Clincher
 
Up Next
Florida will be on the road next weekend with trips to Mississippi State and Auburn. The match against Mississippi State is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (ET) on Friday while the match against Auburn will start at a 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.
 
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