OXFORD, Miss. – Florida women's tennis claimed their third-straight win on Sunday, taking down Ole Miss in Oxford behind a strong performance, 4-1.
 
Sunday's doubles competition was a thriller. On court three, Emily De Oliveira and Sophie Williams opened with a strong 4-0 lead to take control of the match. Emma Kette and Reka Zadori of Ole Miss (8-8, 2-6 SEC) responded with three-straight games to pull within one, but the Gators (11-4, 5-2 SEC) claimed the final two games to claim the match, 6-4.
 
In similar fashion, No. 60 Carly Briggs and Rachel Gailis pulled-ahead of Lillian Gabrielsen and Kelsey Mize for a commanding 4-1 advantage. The Rebels didn't disappear, however, reeling-off five-straight games to even the doubles point at one each, 6-4.
 
The doubles decision came down to the result of Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee on court one. After splitting the first two games with Ludmila Kareisova and Anaelle Leclercq, the Ole Miss duo claimed a 3-1 lead and took momentum. The Orange & Blue had an answer for the Rebels, battling all the way back tie the match at four en route to securing the doubles point behind a 6-4 effort.
 
At the two singles slot, No. 45 Briggs didn't waste time in extending Florida's match lead. After battling Leclercq to a 3-2 edge, Briggs took-off and didn't give up another game in the first set, taking the frame 6-2. Set two began much like the opener, with each athlete winning two in the first four games, but the senior would again pull-away for a 6-3 victory.
 
Briggs' doubles partner, Gailis, brought home the third point of the day for the Gators after taking down Rachel Krzyzak. The Rebel put the pressure on Gailis early, opening-up a 4-1 lead in the first set. The sophomore then reversed momentum on Krzyzak, winning five-consecutive games to win the first set 6-4. The Gator and Rebel battled to a 4-4 stalemate late into the second set, but Gailis' composure helped secure a 6-4 set and match win, extending Florida's lead to 3-0.
 
The Rebels earned their first point of the day in a competitive match on court six between Spee and Zadori, with Zadori earning a 6-4, 6-3 win. Ole Miss' momentum didn't last long, as De Oliveira clinched the match for the Gators at the five singles position. De Oliveira was tough to begin the day, starting with a 4-0 lead over Emma Kette. Ketter managed to win three in-a-row to make it interesting, but the last two games would go the way of Florida for a 6-3 opening frame. Opposite of the first set, Kette took a 5-2 lead late into the second set with hopes of forcing a deciding third. The sophomore for the Orange & Blue had other plans, claiming the next five games of the set to win her match, and the overall match, 7-5.
 
The Gators will return home next weekend for a pair of matches against Missouri and Arkansas at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.  
 
Quotes from the Court
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist
"Another great win in what was a really tough battle. You see the score, 4-1, and it does not make it seem as highly-contested as it was. I was proud of our fight and resilience, we had to really dig deep on some courts. I thought we handled playing on the road this weekend fantastically well, but we're excited to come home and have two matches at home this weekend. Overall, we're leaving the Magnolia state feeling really good about ourselves, but we have, clearly, some areas we need to work on when we get home."
 
Singles
No. 42 Sara Dahlstrom vs. No. 62 Ludmila Kareisova: 7-5, 4-3, unf.
No. 45 Carly Briggs def. Anaelle Leclercq: 6-2, 6-3
Alicia Dudeney vs. Lillian Gabrielsen: 5-7, 4-5, unf.
Rachel Gailis def. Rachel Krzyzak: 6-4, 6-4
Emily De Oliveira def. Emma Kette: 6-3, 7-5
Reka Zadori def. Bente Spee: 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2,4,6,5
 
Doubles
Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee def. Ludmila Kareisova/Anaelle Leclercq (Ole Miss): 6-4
Lillian Gabrielsen/Kelsey Mize (Ole Miss) def. #60 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis: 6-3
Emily De Oliveira/Sophie Williams def. Emma Kette/Reka Zadori (Ole Miss): 6-3
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
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