Gators March Past Saints in NCAA First Round

Friday, May 7

Gainesville, FL

1 PM

Florida Gators

Siena College

Senior Ida Jarlskog produced both singles and doubles wins in UF's win over Siena.

Gators March Past Saints in NCAA First Round

Friday, May 7, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Women’s tennis defeats Siena 4-0, moves on to face USC in regional finale Saturday.

By: Sam Stolte

RESULTS (PDF)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11-seeded University of Florida women's tennis team defeated visiting Siena 4-0 Friday afternoon at Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex, securing a spot in Saturday's regional finale.

Improving to 53-6 at home in NCAA action and extending their overall record to 116-30 in NCAA play, Florida impressed in both doubles and singles action against the MAAC champion Siena.

With the victory the Gators advance to take on USC in the Gainesville regional finale Saturday afternoon. Florida and USC will meet for a 4 p.m. match with the winning team punching a ticket to the tournament's round of 16 next week in Lake Nona. Florida's men's squad is set to take on South Alabama at 1 p.m. in its first matchup of the NCAA Tennis Championships Saturday as well.

Making its 33^rd-straight appearance in the NCAA Tennis Championships, Florida secured the doubles point and rattled off three-straight wins in singles to dispatch the Saints. No. 8 McCartney Kessler, No. 103 Ida Jarlskog and Sydney Berlin all posted victories in the sweep. Berlin, no stranger to match-clinching victories, produced her fifth deciding win of the season with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph on court six.

Pushing its round of 64 record to 22-0, Florida received doubles victories from its top two tandems in No. 7 Kessler and Marlee Zein and No. 53 Jarlskog and Layne Sleeth. Winning for the eighth time in its last nine matches, UF dropped just 13 games combined in doubles and singles, winning 86.

After the day's first match between USC and Oklahoma exceeded three hours and thirty minutes in length, the Gators made quick work of Siena in a tilt that lasted less than an hour and a half.

The Gators, who broke a streak of four-straight doubles point losses, were flat out dominant on Friday, dropping just two games over the three courts. No. 7 Kessler and Zein cruised to a 6-1 win on court one to open the scoring before No. 53 Jarlskog and Sleeth posted a victory by the same tally on court two. The senior Jarlskog and the sophomore Sleeth won for the seventh-straight time.

Berlin and Sara Dahlstrom played an impressive match of their own but saw their contest go unsettled at 5-1 in their favor.

Florida's focus and execution continued on into singles play as it won all six opening sets. The three-time All-SEC pick Kessler scored the opening tally in singles play as she collected a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Meagan Brown on the top court. It was the Georgia native's eighth-straight win.

Just moments later, Jarlskog put the finishing touches on a 6-0, 6-0 win over Petra Miszczak on third court. The two-time All-SEC selection and veteran, Jarlskog, improved to 7-0 in NCAA action.

With all four remaining courts well within striking distance of securing the fourth and final point, it was the left-handed swinging Berlin who was the first to get to the finish line and push the Gators to a postseason win. Winning for the seventh-straight contest, Berlin moved by Anastasia Koniaev, 6-1, 6-0.

No. 71 Zein was oh so close to securing a victory of her own but saw her match go unfinished at 6-2, 5-0. Dahlstrom, ahead 6-1, 5-2, and Sleeth, who maintained a 6-1, 4-1 edge, both saw their matches end with an unfinished verdict.

Improving to 8-1 at home this season, the Gators recorded their fourth sweep of the season.

UP NEXT: The Gators return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Gainesville regional finale. Florida is set to take on USC.

The Gators are 14-7 against USC all time including a 3-0 mark in NCAA play. The last meeting between the programs occurred on Feb. 7, 2016 when the No. 3 Gators posted a 7-0 win over the No. 4 Trojans in Gainesville. The squads last squared off in the NCAA tournament on May 20, 2005 when UF posted a 4-2 win over the Trojans in the quarterfinals in Athens, Ga.

Saturday will be a showdown of two of the sport's premier programs as the Gators have seven national championships and USC, three.

No. 11 seed (No. 12 national rank) Florida 4, Siena 0

Doubles Results
No. 7 McCartney Kessler and Marlee Zein (UF) def. Meagan Brown and Kylie Mullaney, 6-1
No. 53 Ida Jarlskog and Layne Sleeth (UF) def. Petra Miszczak and Emma Boggiali, 6-1
Sydney Berlin and Sara Dahlstrom (UF) def. Maanya Viswanath and Anastasia Koniaev, 5-1 (Unfinished)

Doubles order of finish: 1,2,

Singles Results
No. 8 McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Meagan Brown, 6-1, 6-1
No. 71 Marlee Zein (UF) vs. Kylie Mullaney, 6-2, 5-0 (Unfinished)
No. 103 Ida Jarlskog (UF) def. Petra Miszczak, 6-0, 6-0
No. 79 Layne Sleeth (UF) vs. Maanya Viswanath, 6-1, 4-1 (Unfinished)
Sara Dahlstrom (UF) vs. Emma Boggiali, 6-1, 5-2
Sydney Berlin (UF) def. Anastasia Koniaev, 6-1, 6-0

Singles order of finish: 1,3, 6

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 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.

Quotes from the Court
Senior McCartney Kessler
On getting back to the NCAA Tournament…
"It felt really good. I think today was a good preparation match for tomorrow and I think we are all ready to go. Especially at home."

On the team's great start in doubles…
"I think just playing relaxed and confident. We've been working a lot at doubles in practice and so I think it paid off today and hopefully tomorrow too."

On her experience competing in the NCAA Tournament for third year…
"I think NCAA's is all about how the season goes and we have been on an up-hill slope. I think we are all really ready for this year and especially getting a chance to play at home which we didn't get a chance to do two years ago."

Quotes from the Court
Junior Marlee Zein
On getting back to the NCAA Tournament…
"It felt really good. I mean we all missed our season being cut short last year so being able to actually play in the NCAA Tournament, especially after all of the work we have been putting in this entire season, is really exciting. We are just excited to see how far we can get and how well we can do."

On playing in the NCAA Tournament at home for the first time…
"I think it always feels better to play at home. We are just more comfortable. We have our fan base and coaches here. Everyone just feels much more comfortable and this helps us play better."

On getting the doubles point and building on it…
"I think that everyone had a lot of confidence coming out of doubles. We all just had a lot of confidence going in to singles and it showed."

On takeaways heading in to tomorrow's match…
"I think just keeping that confidence and playing how we have been in practice. We have been practicing a lot of doubles and our singles play too, just kind of brushing up on things. I think if everyone stays focused on their game plans and what they're capable of then we will be in a good spot."

Quotes from the Court
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
On returning to the NCAA Tournament…
"I think we are at a good place. Obviously everyone really enjoyed playing today and I think I really enjoyed practice these past two weeks. Even though they had exams a couple of weeks ago. They all – to a person – did a great job of managing their own schedule and getting work done and getting their fitness in despite the exams. I think we have done a lot of work this past week as well in doubles, as our players referenced, and it really showed today. Honestly it feels to me that we are playing our best tennis of the year and that obviously brings a lot of confidence. We are hoping to be able to showcase that confidence tomorrow against the Trojans."

On the team's performance in doubles…
"Well we managed our own games, right. Very few unforced errors. You know the basics. We made first serves and almost all returns and on top of that, layer in some more aggressive play calling and then that's what you saw today. I'm hoping we can do the same tomorrow and I do think that the work that the players put in, a lot of doubles work, it's helping. I see increased confidence and aggressive play calling which is really awesome for us this time of year."

On takeaways from today heading in to tomorrow's match…
"Well what we really talked about going in to today was doing a good job with our own games. Staying focused and playing clean games. Try to cut down court time in the heat and we accomplished all of that. I thought we were close to winning on almost every court by the time Sydney (Berlin) finished it for us. So I was really pleased that. We had a few hit some balls after just to clean some stuff up and we get a chance to hit a few more balls tomorrow morning to get ready. I feel like our bodies will be really good going in to tomorrow and I hope it's really hot because that's what we like and that's what we prepare for. I think we have a high degree of confidence in our play, singles and doubles. Perhaps for the first time in several weeks, I think we feel really good about all facets of our game."

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.