Florida Gators

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Juniors Andy Andrade and Josh Goodger are set to meet each other in the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Classic singles finals tomorrow after prevailing through quarterfinals and semifinals action on Saturday. Freshman Blaise Bicknell would add a win in the singles quarterfinals prior to falling to Andrade in the semis, while both of Florida's doubles duos would come up short in the doubles semifinals. Additionally, Brian Berdusco finished in the quarterfinals of the consolation singles draw to conclude his weekend in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
 
No. 31 Andrade's path to the finals on Saturday was no walk in the park, as both the junior's matches would go into super tiebreakers to earn his appearance as the top seed in Sunday's championship.
 
Andrade first saw Duke's Edu Guell, the No. 8 seed, in the quarterfinals, as Guell threatened Andrade early on in the first set, though, he would manage to take the advantage in tiebreak, 7-6 (3). Refusing to back down, Guell would find his rhythm to come back and take a 6-3 decision in the second set. With the match on the line, the two would trade points up until Andrade managed to hold off the Blue Devil, 10-8, to advance to the semifinals.
 
Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Blaise Bicknell met with Louisville's Sergio Hernandez Ramirez, the No. 5 seed, in the quarterfinals, knocking him off in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, to see Andrade in the semis. Bicknell would go on to test his fellow teammate in the semifinals, jumping out to a first set victory, 6-3, to open the match. The deficit brought Andrade to life, as he would return the favor with a 6-3 effort prior to outlasting the first-year in the super tiebreaker, 10-8, to move on to the finals.
 
The loss cuts Bicknell's three match win streak, holding an 11-4 record in singles competition through the fall.
 
Josh Goodger, the No. 3 seed, saw Duke's Garrett Johns in his quarterfinals matchup, handing the No. 6 seed a 6-3, 6-2 loss in straight sets to move into the semifinals against Duke's Samuel Rubell. Rubell, the draw's No. 7 seed, gave Goodger a fight in the first, pushing a tiebreak in which Goodger would come out on top, 7-6 (5). Goodger would then seal the deal in the second set, 6-4, to notch his first finals appearance this fall.
 
Junior Brian Berdusco met Louisville's Fabien Salle in the consolation quarterfinals, though, Salle would drop Berdusco, 6-3, 6-2, to end his weekend at the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Classic.
 
Doubles semifinals action began Saturday's competition, as the Gators would unfortunately come up short in tight matches to start the day.
 
Josh Goodger and Greysen Cacciatore met Louisville's Salle and Hernandez Ramirez, the No. 4 seed, narrowly falling to the pair of Cardinals, 8-6. Andrade and Berdusco would force a tiebreak in their semifinals matchup with Notre Dame's Howells and Nefve, though, Howells and Nefve would outlast the Gators, 8-7 (5), to move in Sunday's finals.
 
THOUGHTS FROM VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH SCOTT PERELMAN:

• "The day started with the Gators losing both semifinals doubles matches. Both matches were close and competitive, but you have to give credit to our opponents. They executed on the big points. This afternoon, Josh, Blaise and Andy all won their quarterfinals matches. In the semifinals, Josh played well and won in straight sets. Andy and Blaise played each other and Andy was to win a third set match tiebreaker, 10-8."
• "Tomorrow it will be Florida vs. Florida in the singles final. Our guys are continuing to improve and are finishing their fall tournament season on a high note. These guys are all representing the Gator tennis program in a first-class manner." 

UP NEXT:

• Andrade and Goodger will face off in the singles finals tomorrow to conclude the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Classic after the doubles finals not before 11:30 a.m.