Results

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Registering its second straight win, the No. 41 University of Florida women's tennis team posted a convincing 7-0 victory over visiting Georgia State Saturday afternoon at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.
 
Florida wouldn't drop a single set over the course of the match as it passed its final test before SEC play which begins next weekend.
 
No. 49 McCartney Kessler, No. 113 Victoria Emma, Ida Jarlskog, Marlee Zein, Sydney Berlin and Tsveta Dimitrova all collected singles victories and Florida's second and third doubles pairings finished with wins also.
 
After the doubles point went in their favor, the Gators' execution and effort were relentless in singles as they won all 12 sets and just one set exceeded three games.
 
The sophomore Berlin clinched the match when she put the finishing touches on a 6-3, 6-0 masterpiece from court five.
 
For the second-straight contest, the Gators claimed the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. Berlin and Emma, improving to 2-0 on the season, cruised to a 6-2 win while Dimitrova and Jarlskog, sliding over to court two, dispatched Damira Muminovic and Denisa Gheorghe by the same tally. UF's No. 1 pairing Kessler and Zein saw their match go unfinished at 5-4.
 
The same focus Florida showed in doubles was evident in singles also as it took command from the onset.
 
Winning her 70^th career match, Dimitrova opened the singles scoring with an impressive 6-2, 6-0 win over Gheorghe on six. Soon after, nationally-ranked Kessler posted Florida's third point when she knocked off Eva Chivu, 6-2, 6-2 from their top spot. The two quick singles victories set the stage for Berlin's clinch on five. It was Berlin's ninth victory of the campaign and second during the dual match slate.
 
Following the clinch, three more Gators added victories. Jarlskog, nabbing her team-best third dual match win, ousted Aleksandra Stromova 6-1, 6-2 while No. 113 Emma won for the second-straight match after defeating Muminovic, 6-2, 6-3.
 
After a tight first set, Zein concluded Florida's day with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Andreea Stanescu.
 
Saturday's match marked UF's final tune-up before conference play commences at Alabama next Friday.
 
Up Next
Friday, Feb. 28 6 p.m. ET
No. 41 Florida (3-2) at Alabama (10-2)
Tuscaloosa, Ala.  

No. 41 Florida vs. Georgia State
Doubles Results
McCartney Kessler / Marlee Zein (Florida) def. Eva Chivu / Andreea Stanescu, 5-4 (Unfinished)
Ida Jarlskog / Tsveta Dimitrova (Florida) def. Damira Muminovic / Denisa Gheorghe, 6-2
Victoria Emma / Sydney Berlin (Florida) def. Aleksandra Stromova / Mara Pop, 6-2

Doubles order of finish: 3, 2, 1
 
Singles Results
No. 49 McCartney Kessler (Florida) def. Eva Chivu, 6-2, 6-2
No. 113 Victoria Emma (Florida) def. Damira Muminovic, 6-2, 6-3
Ida Jarlskog (Florida) def. Aleksandra Stromova, 6-1, 6-2
Marlee Zein (Florida) def. Andreea Stanescu, 7-5, 6-1
Sydney Berlin (Florida) def. Mara Pop, 6-3, 6-0
Tsveta Dimitrova (Florida) def. Denisa Gheorghe, 6-2, 6-0

Singles order of finish: 6,1,5,3,2,4
 
Quotes from the Court
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
 
Overall thoughts on the win...
"I think we looked better in almost every category honestly. We have had a substantial period of training here in between the ITA Kickoff Weekend and now the upcoming SEC season next weekend, and I think we have benefited from it. Obviously we were able to switch our doubles pairings and they looked much better and more comfortable with each other this weekend than they did last match. I was pleased with that on all three courts. Last week, I think we were searching for some chemistry and perhaps an identity of on how to play but today we were much more unified and played together.
 
I do think we have made quite a bit of progress over this past month. I think when we start SEC play where you play two matches every single weekend,  that it will be equally beneficial for this team so they can get into the competitive swing. I think some other clubs may have the upper hand now, you look at them and they are 10-2, 10-3 and 10-4 and we are 3-2, but at the same time I think our play is ready right now for us to compete in the SEC. I'm pretty pleased with that." 

On the team's depth, particularly down the lineup…
"I think we have a lot of confidence in all six of our players right now. I think Sydney (Berlin) is playing with a completely different mindset than she did last year. Sometimes it's not easy when players join the team in January and are thrown right into the competitive caldron that is the SEC. To her credit, she fought like crazy and now seems to be settling down and getting her feet under her. Tsveta (Dimitrova), she's a senior, so we are counting on her to be a steady force for us. She is experienced, mature and has a good perspective. She knows that it's her last go around and she wants to cherish every moment and take advantage of her opportunities. Like I said I feel like all six players have improved. I thought Ida was really good today also and that's a huge boost for us."
 
On final adjustments before SEC play…
"We are going to continue to work on our doubles teams because the training we have been doing has clearly paid off. I think we have a powerful team at one, a very crafty team at two and our three team has really asserted themselves. I think we are getting to the stage where we really know what we need to do in doubles and we are going to continue to improve our strength. We just need to get ready for the grind that is the SEC, it's a different animal. We are all looking forward to the challenge. We have trained so hard so it really comes at a good time."
 
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