Florida Selected to Host NCAA First and Second Rounds
Monday, May 2, 2022 | Women's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the 39th time in program history, Florida women's tennis has been selected to compete in the NCAA Tennis Championships, as the 64-team bracket was revealed on Monday evening.
The 16th-seeded Gators' selection to host the first and second round marks the 21st time that UF will serve as a host since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1999. Florida (19-6, 10-3 SEC) is slated to meet South Alabama (22-4, 10-1 CUSA) inside Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Saturday, May 7. First serve is schedule for 2 p.m. ET.
The winner of the Florida-South Alabama match will meet the victor of Saturday's first matchup between Florida State and Florida International. Second round competition will take place on Sunday, May 8 at 1 p.m. ET.
Florida is currently having their best season since the 2017-18 season, boasting a 19-6 record while also going 10-3 in Southeastern Conference competition, good for fourth in the conference. As a squad, the Orange & Blue earned 13 victories over opponents ranked in the ITA rankings.
McCartney Kessler earned SEC Player of the Year honors and First Team All-SEC honors after recording the best singles record for UF at 19-7 (17-5 in dual matches; 12-1 in SEC), winning 13-straight singles victories from Feb. 12-Apr. 8, along with a team-best 13 ranked-victories. She claimed two top-10 singles victories as well. Kessler went 16-6 in doubles contests (15-5 in dual matches; 8-3 SEC), going 8-4 at the top position and 7-1 at three, while earning three ranked wins. She was named the SEC Player of the Week on Apr. 18 and owns the 37th-most total victories in Florida history with 176.
The Calhoun, Ga., native is now a three-time First Team All-SEC honoree, also boasting a second team honor from the 2018-19 campaign. She is currently ranked 12th in the nation in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. With her Player of the Year honor, she is the ninth Gator in program history to earn the award and first since the 2016 season.
After a stellar freshman campaign, Dudeney was honored by the SEC with Second Team placement while also being named to the All-Freshman Team. The Hove, United Kingdom, native recorded a 26-9 singles record (14-4 dual; 7-3 SEC) at primarily the three and four spots. She went 1-0 at the top singles spot, earning her lone win against UAB. She won four ranked matches and 10 of her final 11 singles matches during the year. In doubles, Dudeney ended with the most doubles wins for UF at 28-11 (14-5 dual; 6-4 SEC), including victories in six of her last seven matchups with four ranked wins. She was 5-1 at the top doubles spot.
Dudeney was named SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 9 and Freshman of the Week twice on Apr. 13 and Apr. 18. She was named to the SEC All-Tournament team for her efforts against Arkansas and Texas A&M, the latter of which resulted in a straight-set victory over No. 70 Mary Stoiana.
Also earning All-SEC honors, Marlee Zein picked up Second Team All-SEC honors for the second time in her career. Zein recorded a 16-16 singles record at the two and three slots (10-9 dual matches; 7-5 SEC). When matching up with ranked opponents, Zein earned six singles wins and four ranked doubles victories. In doubles play, the Sugar Land, Texas, native went 20-15 (11-9 dual matches; 5-6 SEC) at the one and two spots. She won five-straight matches during the season, with two ranked wins during that time. Zein currently boasts 101 career victories, the 53rd-most in Florida history. She was ranked as high as 34th during the season.
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.
For ticket information please call: 352-375-4683.
Florida at the NCAA Championships
Florida's Record at the NCAA Championships
Individual Records in NCAA Championships (Current Players)
Berlin - Singles: 3-1 | Doubles: 1-1
Dahlstrom – Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 0-1
Kessler - Singles: 4-1 | Doubles: 3-2
Zein - Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 3-1
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The 16th-seeded Gators' selection to host the first and second round marks the 21st time that UF will serve as a host since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1999. Florida (19-6, 10-3 SEC) is slated to meet South Alabama (22-4, 10-1 CUSA) inside Linder Stadium at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Saturday, May 7. First serve is schedule for 2 p.m. ET.
The winner of the Florida-South Alabama match will meet the victor of Saturday's first matchup between Florida State and Florida International. Second round competition will take place on Sunday, May 8 at 1 p.m. ET.
Florida is currently having their best season since the 2017-18 season, boasting a 19-6 record while also going 10-3 in Southeastern Conference competition, good for fourth in the conference. As a squad, the Orange & Blue earned 13 victories over opponents ranked in the ITA rankings.
McCartney Kessler earned SEC Player of the Year honors and First Team All-SEC honors after recording the best singles record for UF at 19-7 (17-5 in dual matches; 12-1 in SEC), winning 13-straight singles victories from Feb. 12-Apr. 8, along with a team-best 13 ranked-victories. She claimed two top-10 singles victories as well. Kessler went 16-6 in doubles contests (15-5 in dual matches; 8-3 SEC), going 8-4 at the top position and 7-1 at three, while earning three ranked wins. She was named the SEC Player of the Week on Apr. 18 and owns the 37th-most total victories in Florida history with 176.
The Calhoun, Ga., native is now a three-time First Team All-SEC honoree, also boasting a second team honor from the 2018-19 campaign. She is currently ranked 12th in the nation in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. With her Player of the Year honor, she is the ninth Gator in program history to earn the award and first since the 2016 season.
After a stellar freshman campaign, Dudeney was honored by the SEC with Second Team placement while also being named to the All-Freshman Team. The Hove, United Kingdom, native recorded a 26-9 singles record (14-4 dual; 7-3 SEC) at primarily the three and four spots. She went 1-0 at the top singles spot, earning her lone win against UAB. She won four ranked matches and 10 of her final 11 singles matches during the year. In doubles, Dudeney ended with the most doubles wins for UF at 28-11 (14-5 dual; 6-4 SEC), including victories in six of her last seven matchups with four ranked wins. She was 5-1 at the top doubles spot.
Dudeney was named SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 9 and Freshman of the Week twice on Apr. 13 and Apr. 18. She was named to the SEC All-Tournament team for her efforts against Arkansas and Texas A&M, the latter of which resulted in a straight-set victory over No. 70 Mary Stoiana.
Also earning All-SEC honors, Marlee Zein picked up Second Team All-SEC honors for the second time in her career. Zein recorded a 16-16 singles record at the two and three slots (10-9 dual matches; 7-5 SEC). When matching up with ranked opponents, Zein earned six singles wins and four ranked doubles victories. In doubles play, the Sugar Land, Texas, native went 20-15 (11-9 dual matches; 5-6 SEC) at the one and two spots. She won five-straight matches during the season, with two ranked wins during that time. Zein currently boasts 101 career victories, the 53rd-most in Florida history. She was ranked as high as 34th during the season.
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.
For ticket information please call: 352-375-4683.
Florida at the NCAA Championships
- With today's announcement, the Gators have earned a spot in 39 of the 40 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 20 seasons. *2020 the NCAA Championships were not held due to COVID-19.
- The Gators have qualified for 34-straight NCAA Championships.
- Florida won three National Championships last decade (2011, 2012 and 2017)
Florida's Record at the NCAA Championships
- All-time record: 116-31
- Round of 64: 22-0
- Round of 32: 18-4
- Round of 16: 30-4
- Quarterfinals: 25-5
- Semifinals: 14-11
- Final: 7-7
- Home: 53-7
- 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. 11: 1-1 (round of 32)
- As No. 15: 2-1 (round of 16)
Individual Records in NCAA Championships (Current Players)
Berlin - Singles: 3-1 | Doubles: 1-1
Dahlstrom – Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 0-1
Kessler - Singles: 4-1 | Doubles: 3-2
Zein - Singles: 0-1 | Doubles: 3-1
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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