LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – University of Florida women's tennis sophomore
Marlee Zein picked up a singles and a doubles victory and secured a spot in tomorrow's quarterfinal round as the Gators wrapped up their first day of competition at the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic.
After earning a bye in her first round matchup, No. 85 Zein bested Auburn's Madeline Meredith 7-6, 6-1 to nab her third singles win of the fall. On the doubles court Zein and teammate Dimitrova teamed up for a pair of victories. The duo earned a win via walkover in the first round and followed that up with an 8-4 winner over USF's Alexandria Mjos and Amelie Boy.
Competing in the event for the eighth-straight season, Florida sends one singles player and a doubles team onto Saturday's main draw.
After advancing on a walkover in her first round singles matchup, Dimitrova joined Zein in the second round. Dimitrova, battled but fell to nationally-ranked Natalie Novotna of Virginia Tech, 7-5, 6-2.
Sophomore
Sydney Berlin also competed for UF, falling in her main draw matchup 6-4, 6-4 to Oklahoma's Skyler Miller. The Buffalo, New York native rebounded with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Boston College's Marion Conklin in consolation play. The sophomore will take on Michigan's Anca Craciun in tomorrow's consolation quarterfinals.
Zein and Dimitrova return to action Saturday morning in the doubles main draw. The UF duo will take on UCF's Nandini Sharma and Domenika Turkovic at 9 a.m. ET. Following the match, Zein is set to take on Appalachian State's
Sandra Anglesjo.
Quotes from the Court – Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
On Zein's performance...
"Marlee handled the ups and downs of a tough first set well and her play improved in the second set. We're looking forward to seeing her continue to go for the title this weekend."
Results Friday, Nov. 1
Doubles First Round
Tsveta Dimitrova and
Marlee Zein def. Katherine Earnhardt and Sandra Anglesjo (Appalachian State), Win (Walkover)
Singles First Round
Tsveta Dimitrova vs. Katherine Earnhardt (Appalachian State), Win (Walkover)
Skyler Miller (Oklahoma) def.
Sydney Berlin, 6-4, 6-4
No. 85 Marlee Zein - BYE
Singles Second Round
No. 85 Marlee Zein def. Madeline Meredith (Auburn), 7-6 (7), 6-1
No. 72 Natalie Novotna (Virginia Tech) def. Tsveta Dimitrova,
7-5, 6-2
Singles Consolation Round of 16
Sydney Berlin def. Marion Conklin (Boston College)
Doubles Quarterfinals
Tsveta Dimitrova and
Marlee Zein def. Alexandria Mjos and Amelie Boy (USF), 8-4
Schedule Saturday, Nov. 2
(all times listed in ET)
Doubles Semifinals – 9 a.m.
Tsveta Dimitrova and
Marlee Zein vs. Nandini Sharma and Domenika Turkovic (UCF)
Singles Quarterfinals-Not before 10 a.m.
No. 85
Marlee Zein vs. Sandra Anglesjo (Appalachian State)
Consolation Singles Quarterfinals-Not before 10 a.m.
Sydney Berlin vs. Anca Craciun (Michigan)
Singles Semifinals – Not before 1:30 p.m.
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