BOX SCORE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 2 Florida extended its winning streak to 10 with a 5-2 win over LSU on Friday night at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
The Gators also improve to 8-0 in the SEC and continue their best start in conference play since 2005. Florida started the 2005 SEC season 11-0 and went on to win the regular season conference title with only one loss.
In its' 15
th-consecutive top-50 match, Florida found itself at an early disadvantage after dropping the doubles point with losses on courts one and two.
Johannes Ingildsen and
Alfredo Perez got the lone win with a commanding 6-1 decision on court three.
The Gators would answer back. They claimed four first set victories, dropping only on courts two and six. Ingildsen picked up his second win of the day and tied the match with a 6-1, 6-1 victory on court four. Ingildsen improved to 14-3 at the No. 4 position.
Oliver Crawford and
Lukas Greif put Florida up 3-1 with two-set victories of their own, setting up
Duarte Vale for the clincher.
Vale rallied back from a set down to earn the 3-set victory and clinched the match for the Gators. The sophomore remains undefeated in SEC play and earned his second clincher of the season. Vale also extended his winning streak to seven matches.
Sam Riffice finished off Florida's scoring efforts with a 3-set decision on court two. The freshman extended his winning streak to 10 matches and remains perfect throughout conference play.
No. 32 LSU claimed its only singles win as Boris Kozlov defeated
Andy Andrade 7-6(7), 6-2 on court three.
The Gators are now 8-0 at home this season and 42-4 since the start of the 2016 season.
Up next, Florida will meet No. 7 Texas A&M in an SEC Showdown on Sunday at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. The match, which will determine the sole possession of first place in the conference, will begin at Noon and the first 100 fans will receive Gators Men's Tennis seatback chairs. Coffee and donuts will also be complimentary to all fans.
Quotes from the Gators
Sophomore Duarte Vale
"It felt good to clinch the match. It always does because the team gets the W, but I wasn't very satisfied with the way I played. It was good that the team won and that I could help, but I have to do better. I think those types of matches [Florida vs Texas A&M] is why we play tennis or why people play sports is to be in those types of situations. Everyone is going to be really excited for it and it's hopefully going to be a great match and everyone is playing well, us and them. We want to take their best punch, so it's an exciting moment for everyone. Every year is different. We have to forget what happened last year [against Texas A&M] and focus on what these guys can bring. It's a new team for them and it's a new team for us and every year is a different story."
Final Results
#2 Florida 7, #32 LSU 2
Doubles-Order of Finish: 3,1,2
1. Shane Monroe/Daniel Moreno (LSU) def.
McClain Kessler/
Duarte Vale (UF)- 6-3
2. #51 Rafael Wagner/Joey Thomas (LSU) def.
Oliver Crawford/
Sam Riffice (UF)- 7-6 (9-7)
3.
Johannes Ingildsen/
Alfredo Perez (UF) def. Boris Kozlov/Malik Bhatnagar (LSU)- 6-1
Singles-Order of Finish: 4,1,5,3,6*,2
1. #15
Oliver Crawford (UF) def. Rafael Wagner (LSU)- 6-4, 6-3
2. #51
Sam Riffice (UF) def. Shane Monroe (LSU)- 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
3. Boris Kozlov (LSU) def. #29 Andres Andrade (UF)- 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
4. #97
Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Malik Bhatnagar (LSU)- 6-1, 6-1
5.
Lukas Greif (UF) def. Joey Thomas (LSU)- 6-2, 6-4
6.
Duarte Vale (UF) def. Daniel Moreno (LSU)- 3-6, 6-1, 6-2*
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