Gators Host LSU Friday in First Home Match Since January

Friday, March 9

Gainesville, FL

5 PM

Florida Gators

LSU

Freshman Katie Kubicz and the Gators host LSU on Friday and Texas A&M on Sunday.

Gators Host LSU Friday in First Home Match Since January

Thursday, March 8, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Florida has played nine road matches over the last 40 days.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It will have been exactly 40 days since the Gators last played at the friendly confines of the Ring Tennis Complex. Florida fans will have a chance to get reacquainted with the team this weekend when the Gators play host to LSU on Friday at 5 p.m., before welcoming Texas A&M on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The 4-1-1 About Home Matches

Tickets: FREE for all regular-season matches
Parking: FREE and plentiful in the UF Law School parking lot located next to the Ring Tennis Complex
Promotions: Friday – the first 100 fans receive a free Florida Gators Jello mold; Sunday – none
Live Video & Scoring: http://floridagators.com/sports/2017/1/20/tennis-live-video-stats.aspx?path=tennis-women

Florida vs. LSU: The Series

45-Match Series: UF in Gainesville: 20-0; in Baton Rouge: 18-1; Neutral Site: 6-0
Streak: Florida has won the nine consecutive matches against LSU. The Gator's lone loss was a 4-3 decision on April 3, 2009, in Baton Rouge.
Last Meeting: The Gators defeated the Tigers 7-0 in Baton Rouge on March 3, 2017

A Glance at No. 36 LSU (10-2, 1-1 SEC)

SEC Opening Weekend: The Tigers are 1-1 in the SEC with a loss to No. 10 Georgia and a win against No. 17 Tennessee.
Individual Rankings: Singles – No. 67 Jessica Golovin; Doubles –No. 50 Jessica Golovin & Eden Richardson
On the road: Friday's match at Florida is LSU's first road match of the season. The Tigers have played two neutral site matches and went 1-1.
Of Note: LSU is coached by Julia Sell – or as Gator fans would remember her –Julia Scaringe, who was the lone senior on Florida's 2003 NCAA Championships Team.

A Glance at the Gators (7-4, 2-0 SEC)

SEC Opening Weekend: The Gators earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory at No. 7 Ole Miss to open its SEC season and followed that with a 4-0 win at Mississippi State.
Individual Rankings: Singles – No. 15 Anna Danilina, No. 45 Josie Kuhlman, No. 100 Victoria Emma; Doubles –No. 15 Anna Danilina & Victoria Emma
Remember us?: Friday's match will be Florida's first at home in 40 days, having played its last nine matches against from Gainesville. The Gator's last home appearance was a 4-0 victory against Louisiana at Monroe on Sun., January 28.
Of Note: Florida brings a four-match win streak into Friday's action.

Quotes from the Court (check of the videos for the complete interviews):

UF Coach Roland Thornqvist
On how the team has changed since playing at home on January 28:
"I think we've come a long way. We're certainly a much better team now than we were entering this road swing. We look like a much more mature team. We handle the ups and downs within a match much better and I think we play better, as well. Maybe it took playing on the road, seeing some adversity and having a couple losses … obviously, playing a tough National Team Indoors Championship helped us, too. I really like the way we're competing now and this is as good as we've played all year."

Senior Josie Kuhlman
On the three freshmen responding to the intensity of team matches:
"They've responded so well. What you saw against Florida State to what we did in three consecutive 4-3 matches and just having that experience in tight matches is so important for us. When it's 3-all, we're not as nervous because we've been there before this season. For the freshmen, just having that experience and that environment around them is so important moving into SEC play and postseason down the road."

On playing at home again:
"We've been waiting to get back here. Nine matches on the road is a lot. We had some great matches but we're ready to get back in front of the home crowd and enjoy it."

Freshman Victoria Emma
On playing at home for the first time since January 28:
"It's really nice to be home and play our first SEC match in front of our home crowd."

On the experience of team tennis:
"It's been amazing. I love playing on a team. The support I get from everybody when I'm playing tough points in the tough matches I've had, I've definitely been able to push through them with the help of my teammates and the support of the coaches. I just love it."

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