Thursday, March 16
Oxford, MS / Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center
4 PM
Florida Gators
5
at
2
Ole Miss
Lukas Greif clinched his third match of the season with a win in straights on court six. (Photo by: Reed Jones)
No. 26 Florida Bounces Back with Big Victory at Ole Miss
Thursday, March 16, 2023 | Men's Tennis
The Gators snatched the doubles point and won four singles matches for the 5-2 victory in Oxford.
OXFORD, Miss. β The No. 26 Florida men's tennis team went into enemy territory and handed No. 30 Ole Miss their first loss in the Southeastern Conference, 5-2, at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center on Thursday afternoon.
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The Gators (7-7, 2-2 SEC) knew they were in for a tight match with the Rebels (12-3, 2-1 SEC) immediately, as the doubles competition was neck-and-neck on court one and two. Yet, Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif were putting tremendous pressure on Isac Stromberg/Noah Schlagenhauf on court three. By converting three breaks, the Gators pair cruised to a 6-3 victory.
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After No. 18 Will Grant/Axel Nefve fell to No. 59 Lukas Engelhardt/Nikola Slavic, 6-3, on court one, Nate Bonetto/Tanapatt Nirundorn stepped up to the challenge on court two for the third straight match. Florida's tandem clinched the doubles point once again by converting a break on John Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk's serve at 5-4 to claim the match.
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Florida stormed on into singles play by snatching five first sets and the initial point for the 2-0 lead came by retirement on court three, as Simon Junk was forced to retire down 5-1 to No. 79 Braswell. Returning to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 19, Togan Tokac never trailed against Isac Stromberg and breezed by 6-3, 6-1 for the first SEC victory of the Turkey native's career.
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On the next court over, Lukas Greif delivered the match clincher from court six in dominant fashion. After dropping only one game in the opening frame to Gordon Whitwell, 6-1, the senior remained in control in the second. Greif delivered the finishing blow for the third time this season by breaking Whitwell's serve to win the second frame 6-3 for his second straight victory from the six position.
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Ole Miss returned with wins at court one and four, as No. 103 Nefve faced his 10th ranked player of the season in No. 69 Slavic, but lost 6-4, 6-3. Olek Orlikowski played his first match at the four position and took the opening set 7-6 (2), before losing the next set 6-3 to Lukas Engelhardt and dropping the 10-point tiebreak 10-4 in place of a third set.
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No. 72 Grant completed the 5-2 road win in a hard-fought battle with John Hallquist Lithen in straights. Winning the final two games for a 7-5 first set, the junior was down 5-1 in the following frame, but was undeterred. The Boca Raton, Fla. native won six of the next seven games securing another 7-5 set.
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The Gators continue their road trip in Nashville Saturday with the No. 61 Vanderbilt Commodores at noon ET.
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QUOTES FROM THE COURT
Associate Head Coach Mat Cloer
On earning the doubles point for the third straight matchβ¦
"I think it's always great to get that doubles point. You can carry that momentum into singles and we've been doing a great job starting well in doubles. All three teams are really competing well, so it's always really important, and a great job by the guys today."
Β
On what it means to bounce back with a road winβ¦
"Credit to the guys and how they've bounced back and prepared and really improved since Sunday. It's a big win for us on the road and a great job by the team today."
Β
On what the team needs to do against Vanderbilt to finish the road trip 2-0...
"We have to get better in practice tomorrow. Continue with the energy that we've been practicing with and working on all the things they know to work on. Continue being a strong team together and Vandy is going to be tough, so we need to put our best foot forward and be ready to compete and bring the right energy."
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DOUBLES RESULTS
1. No. 59 Lukas Engelhardt/Nikola Slavic (Ole Miss) def. No. 18 Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF), 6-3
2. Nate Bonetto/Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) def. John Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk (Ole Miss), 6-4
3. Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Isac Stromberg/Noah Schlagenhauf (Ole Miss), 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
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SINGLES RESULTS
1. 69 Nikola Slavic (Ole Miss) def. No. 103 Axel Nefve (UF), 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 72 Will Grant (UF) def. John Hallquist Lithen (Ole Miss), 7-5, 7-5
3. No. 79 Jonah Braswell (UF) def. Simon Junk (Ole Miss), 5-1 (retired)
4. Lukas Engelhardt (Ole Miss) def. Olek Orlikowski (UF), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 10-4
5. Togan Tokac (UF) def. Isac Stromberg (Ole Miss), 6-3, 6-1
6. Lukas Greif (UF) def. Gordon Whitwell (Ole Miss), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 6, 1, 4, 2
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The Gators (7-7, 2-2 SEC) knew they were in for a tight match with the Rebels (12-3, 2-1 SEC) immediately, as the doubles competition was neck-and-neck on court one and two. Yet, Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif were putting tremendous pressure on Isac Stromberg/Noah Schlagenhauf on court three. By converting three breaks, the Gators pair cruised to a 6-3 victory.
Β
After No. 18 Will Grant/Axel Nefve fell to No. 59 Lukas Engelhardt/Nikola Slavic, 6-3, on court one, Nate Bonetto/Tanapatt Nirundorn stepped up to the challenge on court two for the third straight match. Florida's tandem clinched the doubles point once again by converting a break on John Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk's serve at 5-4 to claim the match.
Β
Florida stormed on into singles play by snatching five first sets and the initial point for the 2-0 lead came by retirement on court three, as Simon Junk was forced to retire down 5-1 to No. 79 Braswell. Returning to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 19, Togan Tokac never trailed against Isac Stromberg and breezed by 6-3, 6-1 for the first SEC victory of the Turkey native's career.
Β
On the next court over, Lukas Greif delivered the match clincher from court six in dominant fashion. After dropping only one game in the opening frame to Gordon Whitwell, 6-1, the senior remained in control in the second. Greif delivered the finishing blow for the third time this season by breaking Whitwell's serve to win the second frame 6-3 for his second straight victory from the six position.
Β
Ole Miss returned with wins at court one and four, as No. 103 Nefve faced his 10th ranked player of the season in No. 69 Slavic, but lost 6-4, 6-3. Olek Orlikowski played his first match at the four position and took the opening set 7-6 (2), before losing the next set 6-3 to Lukas Engelhardt and dropping the 10-point tiebreak 10-4 in place of a third set.
Β
No. 72 Grant completed the 5-2 road win in a hard-fought battle with John Hallquist Lithen in straights. Winning the final two games for a 7-5 first set, the junior was down 5-1 in the following frame, but was undeterred. The Boca Raton, Fla. native won six of the next seven games securing another 7-5 set.
Β
The Gators continue their road trip in Nashville Saturday with the No. 61 Vanderbilt Commodores at noon ET.
Β
QUOTES FROM THE COURT
Associate Head Coach Mat Cloer
On earning the doubles point for the third straight matchβ¦
"I think it's always great to get that doubles point. You can carry that momentum into singles and we've been doing a great job starting well in doubles. All three teams are really competing well, so it's always really important, and a great job by the guys today."
Β
On what it means to bounce back with a road winβ¦
"Credit to the guys and how they've bounced back and prepared and really improved since Sunday. It's a big win for us on the road and a great job by the team today."
Β
On what the team needs to do against Vanderbilt to finish the road trip 2-0...
"We have to get better in practice tomorrow. Continue with the energy that we've been practicing with and working on all the things they know to work on. Continue being a strong team together and Vandy is going to be tough, so we need to put our best foot forward and be ready to compete and bring the right energy."
Β
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. No. 59 Lukas Engelhardt/Nikola Slavic (Ole Miss) def. No. 18 Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF), 6-3
2. Nate Bonetto/Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) def. John Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk (Ole Miss), 6-4
3. Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Isac Stromberg/Noah Schlagenhauf (Ole Miss), 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Β
SINGLES RESULTS
1. 69 Nikola Slavic (Ole Miss) def. No. 103 Axel Nefve (UF), 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 72 Will Grant (UF) def. John Hallquist Lithen (Ole Miss), 7-5, 7-5
3. No. 79 Jonah Braswell (UF) def. Simon Junk (Ole Miss), 5-1 (retired)
4. Lukas Engelhardt (Ole Miss) def. Olek Orlikowski (UF), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 10-4
5. Togan Tokac (UF) def. Isac Stromberg (Ole Miss), 6-3, 6-1
6. Lukas Greif (UF) def. Gordon Whitwell (Ole Miss), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 6, 1, 4, 2
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
12
43
Nikola Slavic / 0 (69/-) [OM]
66
#2 Singles Match
12
77
J. Hallquist Lithen / 0 [OM]
55
#3 Singles Match
12
5WR
Simon Junk / 0 [OM]
10
#4 Singles Match
123
730
Lukas Engelhardt / 0 [OM]
661
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Isac Stromberg / 0 [OM]
31
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Gordon Whitwell / 0 [OM]
13
Order of Finish:
3,5,6,1,4,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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