
Gators pegged to host NCAA First and Second Rounds for 20th time.
Women’s Tennis Selected to Host NCAA First & Second Rounds
Monday, May 3, 2021 | Women's Tennis
No. 11 Gators earn 33rd-straight bid to NCAA Tennis Championships; host Siena Friday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the 38th time in program history, the University of Florida women's tennis team has earned a spot in the NCAA Tennis Championships as the 64-team bracket was unveiled Monday evening.
For the 20th time since the NCAA Championships expanded its field to 64 in 1999, Florida will play host to the first and second rounds. The Gators (12-7, 10-3) welcome Siena College (7-3, 3-2) to Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Friday, May 7. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. ET.
With a victory over MAAC champion Siena, No. 11 overall seed Florida would take on the winner of the matchup between USC and Oklahoma, who compete alongside the Gators and Saints in the Gainesville regional. The second round match is slated for Saturday.
The Ring Tennis Complex will serve as a dual site for the opening rounds for the first time since the 2017-18 season as the Florida men's team secured their tournament's No. 1 overall seed and was selected to host for the fifth-straight season.
Florida, which finished the regular season on a seven-match winning streak, registered a 10-3 mark in conference play and a second place finish in the competitive cauldron that is the SEC. The Gators, who have battled 13-straight ranked opponents, have been a strong singles team all year long with a 56-31 overall record in dual match action. Senior McCartney Kessler, who was named to the All-SEC First Team last week, leads the way with a 13-2 record and has won her last seven matches. Left-handed hitting Sydney Berlin is second on the team with 11 dual match wins and posted an 8-2 mark in SEC competition. Sophomore Layne Sleeth wrapped up the season with a 9-1 record and has posted victories in her last six matchups.
Junior Marlee Zein and senior Ida Jarlskog also garnered all-conference recognition, earning spots on the All-SEC Second Team while freshman Sara Dahlstrom was tabbed to the All-Freshman squad.
UF, which has posted a 9-6 record against ranked opponents, last took to the courts on April 21 when it squared off with South Carolina in the SEC Tournament's quarterfinal round. Meeting for the second time in eight days, the Gators weren't able to replicate the same success they had when they defeated the Gamecocks in Columbia in their regular season finale. Florida fell 4-1 to South Carolina despite a late comeback bid.
No. 9 Kessler, No. 58 Zein, No. 79 Sleeth and No. 116 Jarlskog all represent the Gators in the ITA singles rankings. In doubles, the Gators feature No. 6 Kessler and Zein and No. 60 Jarlskog and Sleeth.
The men and women combined for a 17-1 record in home matches this season.
Both the men's and women's first and second round competitions will feature a four-team bracket, with the winners of each pod advancing to the championship rounds at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., May 16-28.
Selections for the NCAA Division I Singles and Doubles Championships will be announced Tuesday evening.
Ticket Information
Tickets may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament. An all-session pass is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 12. Single day tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 12.
Gates will open for fans one hour prior to the start of the first competition each day. Please note that seating is on a first come, first served basis and saving of seats is not permitted.
Based on updated recommendations from the NCAA's COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group local guidelines for fan attendance, not to exceed 50% of the venue capacity, at outdoor NCAA Championships will be followed.
For ticket information please call: 352-375-4683 or visit https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/TennisNCAA#/
Patrons can purchase and add their tickets to the FloridaGators app or purchase walk-up tickets.
2021 Tennis at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex
Individual Records in NCAA Championships (Current Players)
Berlin - Singles: 1-1 | Doubles: 1-1
Jarlskog - Singles: 6-0 | Doubles: 3-3
Kessler - Singles: 3-1 | Doubles: 2-2
Zein - Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 1-1
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
For the 20th time since the NCAA Championships expanded its field to 64 in 1999, Florida will play host to the first and second rounds. The Gators (12-7, 10-3) welcome Siena College (7-3, 3-2) to Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Friday, May 7. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. ET.
With a victory over MAAC champion Siena, No. 11 overall seed Florida would take on the winner of the matchup between USC and Oklahoma, who compete alongside the Gators and Saints in the Gainesville regional. The second round match is slated for Saturday.
The Ring Tennis Complex will serve as a dual site for the opening rounds for the first time since the 2017-18 season as the Florida men's team secured their tournament's No. 1 overall seed and was selected to host for the fifth-straight season.
Florida, which finished the regular season on a seven-match winning streak, registered a 10-3 mark in conference play and a second place finish in the competitive cauldron that is the SEC. The Gators, who have battled 13-straight ranked opponents, have been a strong singles team all year long with a 56-31 overall record in dual match action. Senior McCartney Kessler, who was named to the All-SEC First Team last week, leads the way with a 13-2 record and has won her last seven matches. Left-handed hitting Sydney Berlin is second on the team with 11 dual match wins and posted an 8-2 mark in SEC competition. Sophomore Layne Sleeth wrapped up the season with a 9-1 record and has posted victories in her last six matchups.
Junior Marlee Zein and senior Ida Jarlskog also garnered all-conference recognition, earning spots on the All-SEC Second Team while freshman Sara Dahlstrom was tabbed to the All-Freshman squad.
UF, which has posted a 9-6 record against ranked opponents, last took to the courts on April 21 when it squared off with South Carolina in the SEC Tournament's quarterfinal round. Meeting for the second time in eight days, the Gators weren't able to replicate the same success they had when they defeated the Gamecocks in Columbia in their regular season finale. Florida fell 4-1 to South Carolina despite a late comeback bid.
No. 9 Kessler, No. 58 Zein, No. 79 Sleeth and No. 116 Jarlskog all represent the Gators in the ITA singles rankings. In doubles, the Gators feature No. 6 Kessler and Zein and No. 60 Jarlskog and Sleeth.
The men and women combined for a 17-1 record in home matches this season.
Both the men's and women's first and second round competitions will feature a four-team bracket, with the winners of each pod advancing to the championship rounds at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., May 16-28.
Selections for the NCAA Division I Singles and Doubles Championships will be announced Tuesday evening.
For the 38th time in program history, 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻!
— Gators Women's Tennis (@GatorsWTN) May 3, 2021
The No. 11 Gators will host Siena on Friday! #GoGators | #NCAATennis pic.twitter.com/3skOmuZO1z
Ticket Information
Tickets may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament. An all-session pass is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 12. Single day tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 12.
Gates will open for fans one hour prior to the start of the first competition each day. Please note that seating is on a first come, first served basis and saving of seats is not permitted.
Based on updated recommendations from the NCAA's COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group local guidelines for fan attendance, not to exceed 50% of the venue capacity, at outdoor NCAA Championships will be followed.
For ticket information please call: 352-375-4683 or visit https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/TennisNCAA#/
Patrons can purchase and add their tickets to the FloridaGators app or purchase walk-up tickets.
2021 Tennis at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex
- There are designated seating blocks for groups of two and four indicated by orange seats in the stands to ensure proper physical distancing. Each block has three feet of distance on all sides.
- The first rows of each section are blocked off to create a clear and safer walkway for guests.
- In accordance with campus guidelines, face coverings (over the nose and mouth) will be required of all guests throughout the entire match. Failure to comply with this important health guideline could result in loss of attendance privileges.
- The complex features new signage to help reinforce safety measures and will also feature an increased number of hand sanitizer stations.
- Fans are encouraged to utilize clear bags to reduce touch points for entry gate staff.
- In the event of inclement weather, patrons, with exception to a small number of individuals on the player guest list, will not be allowed into the indoor facility.
- Access to the tennis building or the court is not permitted for any patrons.
- No outside food or drink is allowed in the complex and the concession stand will remain open.
- With today's announcement, the Gators have earned a spot in 38 of the 39 NCAA Championships, missing only the 1986 event.
- The Gators have won seven NCAA team titles: 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2011, 2012 and 2017. This is the second most in NCAA history, trailing just Stanford.
- UF has advanced to at least the NCAA semifinals 24 times in the last 32 years.
- Head Coach Roland Thornqvist has guided the Gators to the NCAA Championships in 19 seasons. *2020 the NCAA Championships were not held due to COVID-19.
- The Gators have qualified for 33-straight NCAA Championships.
- Florida won three National Championships last decade (2011, 2012 and 2017)
- All-time record: 115-30
- Round of 64: 21-0
- Round of 32: 18-3
- Round of 16: 30-4
- Quarterfinals: 25-5
- Semifinals: 14-11
- Final: 7-7
- Home: 52-6
- Away: 4-3
- Neutral: 59-21
- As No. 1: 46-11 (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)
- As No. 2: 31-3 (4 titles, 1 runner-up)
- As No. 3: 5-1 (1 runner-up)
- As No. 4: 15-4 (3 semifinal appearances)
- As No. 5: 5-3 (3 quarterfinal appearances)
- As No. 6: 4-1 (1 semifinal appearance)
- As No. 8: 4-1 (1 semifinal appearance)
- As No. 9: 1-1 (round of 32)
- As No. 15: 2-1 (round of 16)
Individual Records in NCAA Championships (Current Players)
Berlin - Singles: 1-1 | Doubles: 1-1
Jarlskog - Singles: 6-0 | Doubles: 3-3
Kessler - Singles: 3-1 | Doubles: 2-2
Zein - Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 1-1
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
Players Mentioned
NCAA: Roland Thornqvist Press Conference 5-5-24
Sunday, May 05
NCAA: Coach Thornqvist & Rachel Gailis 5-4-24
Saturday, May 04
Roland Thornqvist Postmatch NCAA Second Round 5-6-23
Saturday, May 06
Roland Thornqvist Postmatch NCAA First Round 5-5-23
Friday, May 05