Saturday, April 16
Gainesville, Fla.
12:30 PM
Florida Gators
vs
South Carolina
Gators to Honor Three Seniors on Saturday Against No. 23 South Carolina
Thursday, April 14, 2022 | Women's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women's tennis is set to honor its three seniors on Saturday afternoon when No. 23 South Carolina comes to town for a 1 p.m. ET matchup with the No. 16 Gators.
Senior day festivities will begin approximately at 12:30 p.m. ET as Sydney Berlin, McCartney Kessler and Marlee Zein will be honored for their contributions and dedication to Florida women's tennis.
PARKING AND WEATHER REPORT
There will be no parking restrictions for Saturday's match against the Gamecocks. Saturday calls for sunny weather with temperatures nearing 90, but in the event that rain moves matches indoors, seats will be available on a first come, first served basis.
SENIOR DAY
Berlin joined the Gators at the semester break during the 2018-19 season. Primarily lining up at the five and six singles positions in her career, Berlin holds a 52-32 singles record, including a 15-7 mark in SEC competition and 3-1 tally in the NCAA Tournament. The two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection clinched the Gators' first round win over Siena in the NCAA Tournament during the 2020-21 campaign and the role was no stranger to Berlin, as she also clinched Florida's victory over Boston College in the NCAA Tournament during the 2018-19 campaign. The Buffalo, New York, native was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete during the 2019-20 season, a year in which she led the team with five doubles victories in the dual match season. For her career, Berlin holds a win total of 78 matches.
After graduating with a degree in Health Education and Behavior Science from Florida in August, Kessler decided to return to the Gators for her fifth year of eligibility. A staple at the top singles position, Kessler recently became the newest Gator to record 100 singles victories, now holding 102, and when paired with her 71 doubles victories, she boasts the 37th-most wins in Florida history with 173. The graduate is no stranger to top-level competition, owning a 4-1 singles mark and 3-2 doubles record in NCAA Tournament dual matches. Currently holding an 11-1 mark in SEC play this season, Kessler was named a First Team All-SEC honoree in 2021 and 2018, alongside All-Freshman Team honors, while earning Second Team honors in 2019. A two-time ITA All-American in 2021, Kessler was named the ITA Most Improved Senior for the Southeast Region and finished the dual season with an impressive 14-2 mark. Due to her efforts off the court, Kessler has been named a four-time ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete and a three-time SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll honoree.
Zein joined the Gators women's tennis program for the 2018-19 season and has made a strong impact during her time. Holding 120 career victories, Zein earned All-American honors in doubles alongside Kessler, ending her season ranked No. 7 nationally with a 16-9 clip in doubles competition. Her standout season also resulted in a Second Team All-SEC selection thanks to an 4-2 SEC doubles record and 5-3 singles mark. Zein took great strides during the 2019-20 campaign, recording a team-best 11 ranked wins with an 83.3% winning percentage to also lead the team in the shortened season. During her initial season with the Gators, Zein collected 37 wins to help her earn SEC All-Freshman honors. The Sugar Land, Texas, native currently holds a 7-4 record in SEC singles, primarily playing at the two singles position. Off the court, the senior's work ethic has helped her to numerous honors, as Zein is a three-time SEC Community Service Team member, two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete honoree, and two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. She ends with the 50th most career victories in Florida history.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Saturday will mark the 51st meeting between the Gators and Gamecocks, with Florida holding a 45-5 all-time advantage. The two squads last met at the 2021 SEC Tournament, with South Carolina defeating Florida, 4-1, to end their SEC championship hopes. In Gainesville, however, the Orange & Blue are 19-1 against South Carolina.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Dudeney had a perfect weekend of competition for the Gators, going 2-0 in singles play and 1-0 in doubles competition. To start the weekend, the freshman made sure that Friday's match against No. 42 Alabama would end with an Orange & Blue sweep, playing clincher on court four. The Hove, United Kingdom, native found herself in a back-and-forth match against Anna Parkhomenko early, holding a 4-3 lead midway through the first set. The two would continue to exchange punches, leading to a 6-4 set one victory for Dudeney before a dominant 6-1 second set. On the doubles side, the freshman was leading Bencheikh/Hiser at the top position alongside McCartney Kessler, 5-2, before the match was abandoned.
Against No. 13 Auburn, the duo of Dudeney and Kessler would pull the Gators back even with the opposition on the top court in doubles competition. Facing off with the No. 12 doubles team in the country of Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault, Florida raced out to a 3-1 lead and never looked back, earning an impressive 6-3 victory. Dudeney recorded the lone singles win of the day for Florida, making quick work of opponent Adeline Flach in the opening set, 6-0, before nearly completing the sweep in the second, securing a 6-1 set and match victory.
Overall, Dudeney is now 11-4 in both dual doubles and singles competition. She now boasts a 6-3 record in SEC singles as well, having won four-consecutive matches.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
The stakes are high for Saturday's matchup with South Carolina. Currently, the Gators sit in fourth in the SEC with a 9-3 record while the Gamecocks boast an 8-4 mark, sitting at fifth. The winner of Saturday's competition will claim the fourth seed and a double-bye in next week's SEC Tournament.
ITA RANKINGS
In the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings, the Gators dropped to No. 16 in the country while also moving to No. 16 in the United States Tennis Association rankings. Individually, two Gators find themselves ranked including:
McCartney Kessler – No. 12
Marlee Zein – No. 67
On the doubles side, the top two doubles teams for Florida sit in the top-50 nationally, while the new paring of Alicia Dudeney and Kessler also appear in the rankings:
Carly Briggs/Marlee Zein – No. 9
Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee – No. 48
Alicia Dudeney/McCartney Kessler – No. 66
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Senior day festivities will begin approximately at 12:30 p.m. ET as Sydney Berlin, McCartney Kessler and Marlee Zein will be honored for their contributions and dedication to Florida women's tennis.
PARKING AND WEATHER REPORT
There will be no parking restrictions for Saturday's match against the Gamecocks. Saturday calls for sunny weather with temperatures nearing 90, but in the event that rain moves matches indoors, seats will be available on a first come, first served basis.
SENIOR DAY
Berlin joined the Gators at the semester break during the 2018-19 season. Primarily lining up at the five and six singles positions in her career, Berlin holds a 52-32 singles record, including a 15-7 mark in SEC competition and 3-1 tally in the NCAA Tournament. The two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection clinched the Gators' first round win over Siena in the NCAA Tournament during the 2020-21 campaign and the role was no stranger to Berlin, as she also clinched Florida's victory over Boston College in the NCAA Tournament during the 2018-19 campaign. The Buffalo, New York, native was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete during the 2019-20 season, a year in which she led the team with five doubles victories in the dual match season. For her career, Berlin holds a win total of 78 matches.
After graduating with a degree in Health Education and Behavior Science from Florida in August, Kessler decided to return to the Gators for her fifth year of eligibility. A staple at the top singles position, Kessler recently became the newest Gator to record 100 singles victories, now holding 102, and when paired with her 71 doubles victories, she boasts the 37th-most wins in Florida history with 173. The graduate is no stranger to top-level competition, owning a 4-1 singles mark and 3-2 doubles record in NCAA Tournament dual matches. Currently holding an 11-1 mark in SEC play this season, Kessler was named a First Team All-SEC honoree in 2021 and 2018, alongside All-Freshman Team honors, while earning Second Team honors in 2019. A two-time ITA All-American in 2021, Kessler was named the ITA Most Improved Senior for the Southeast Region and finished the dual season with an impressive 14-2 mark. Due to her efforts off the court, Kessler has been named a four-time ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete and a three-time SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll honoree.
Zein joined the Gators women's tennis program for the 2018-19 season and has made a strong impact during her time. Holding 120 career victories, Zein earned All-American honors in doubles alongside Kessler, ending her season ranked No. 7 nationally with a 16-9 clip in doubles competition. Her standout season also resulted in a Second Team All-SEC selection thanks to an 4-2 SEC doubles record and 5-3 singles mark. Zein took great strides during the 2019-20 campaign, recording a team-best 11 ranked wins with an 83.3% winning percentage to also lead the team in the shortened season. During her initial season with the Gators, Zein collected 37 wins to help her earn SEC All-Freshman honors. The Sugar Land, Texas, native currently holds a 7-4 record in SEC singles, primarily playing at the two singles position. Off the court, the senior's work ethic has helped her to numerous honors, as Zein is a three-time SEC Community Service Team member, two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete honoree, and two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. She ends with the 50th most career victories in Florida history.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Saturday will mark the 51st meeting between the Gators and Gamecocks, with Florida holding a 45-5 all-time advantage. The two squads last met at the 2021 SEC Tournament, with South Carolina defeating Florida, 4-1, to end their SEC championship hopes. In Gainesville, however, the Orange & Blue are 19-1 against South Carolina.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Dudeney had a perfect weekend of competition for the Gators, going 2-0 in singles play and 1-0 in doubles competition. To start the weekend, the freshman made sure that Friday's match against No. 42 Alabama would end with an Orange & Blue sweep, playing clincher on court four. The Hove, United Kingdom, native found herself in a back-and-forth match against Anna Parkhomenko early, holding a 4-3 lead midway through the first set. The two would continue to exchange punches, leading to a 6-4 set one victory for Dudeney before a dominant 6-1 second set. On the doubles side, the freshman was leading Bencheikh/Hiser at the top position alongside McCartney Kessler, 5-2, before the match was abandoned.
Against No. 13 Auburn, the duo of Dudeney and Kessler would pull the Gators back even with the opposition on the top court in doubles competition. Facing off with the No. 12 doubles team in the country of Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault, Florida raced out to a 3-1 lead and never looked back, earning an impressive 6-3 victory. Dudeney recorded the lone singles win of the day for Florida, making quick work of opponent Adeline Flach in the opening set, 6-0, before nearly completing the sweep in the second, securing a 6-1 set and match victory.
Overall, Dudeney is now 11-4 in both dual doubles and singles competition. She now boasts a 6-3 record in SEC singles as well, having won four-consecutive matches.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
The stakes are high for Saturday's matchup with South Carolina. Currently, the Gators sit in fourth in the SEC with a 9-3 record while the Gamecocks boast an 8-4 mark, sitting at fifth. The winner of Saturday's competition will claim the fourth seed and a double-bye in next week's SEC Tournament.
ITA RANKINGS
In the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings, the Gators dropped to No. 16 in the country while also moving to No. 16 in the United States Tennis Association rankings. Individually, two Gators find themselves ranked including:
McCartney Kessler – No. 12
Marlee Zein – No. 67
On the doubles side, the top two doubles teams for Florida sit in the top-50 nationally, while the new paring of Alicia Dudeney and Kessler also appear in the rankings:
Carly Briggs/Marlee Zein – No. 9
Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee – No. 48
Alicia Dudeney/McCartney Kessler – No. 66
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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