Gators Close Road Weekend Upsetting No. 21 Alabama

Sunday, March 16

Tuscaloosa, AL

12 PM

Florida Gators

University of Alabama

Florida's senior duo of Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee dominated in both singles and doubles action at Alabama, tallying a combined three points to lift the Gators over the No. 21 Crimson Tide.

Gators Close Road Weekend Upsetting No. 21 Alabama

Sunday, March 16, 2025 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Meg Christenson

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– The Gators pulled off a stunning upset over No. 21-ranked Alabama on Sunday, securing a hard-fought 4-3 victory in Tuscaloosa. The Gators clinched the match with strong performances in both doubles and singles play, highlighted by a dominant finish from No. 50 Rachel Gailis.

Doubles Action:
Florida showed out early in Crimson Tide territory, claiming the crucial doubles point over the top-25 ranked team. The duo of Alicia Dudeney and Bente Spee edged out Alabama's Petra Sedlackova and Margaux Maquet, 6-4, while Nikola Daubnerova and Gailis secured the doubles point for UF with a close 7-5 win over Alabama's Sara Nayar and Klara Milicevic.

Singles Play:
Alabama fought back against the Gators in the singles category, tying the score at 2-2 and 3-3, but Florida held firm to close out the upset. Dudeney cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Maria Andrienko at the No. 2 spot to secure UF's second point of the day.

Senior leader, Bente Spee also delivered in the singles category with a steady 6-3, 6-3 victory over Margaux Maquet. The fourth and final point for the Gators came from Gailis, who showcased her ability to fight after dropping the first set 6-3 to No. 79 Petra Sedlackova, before rallying to take sets two and three at 6-2, 6-0. Gailis' win on court one sealed the overall road victory for Florida.

Florida's freshmen proved to have a more challenging outing with Talia Neilson-Gatenby falling 7-5, 6-2 to Klara Milicevic, Daubnerova dropping 6-3, 6-4 against Maria Martinez-Vaque, and Noémie Oliveras being overpowered by Sara Nayar at 6-0, 6-3.

FINAL RESULTS:
Final Singles Results:
1. #50 Rachel Gailis (UF) def. #79 Petra Sedlackova (UA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Alicia Dudeney (UF) def. Maria Andrienko (UA) 6-0, 6-2
3. Klara Milicevic (UA) def. Talia NeilsonGatenby (UF) 7-5, 6-2
4. Maria Martinez-Vaque (UA) def. Nikola Daubnerova (UF) 6-3, 6-4
5. Bente Spee (UF) def. Margaux Maquet (UA) 6-3, 6-3
6. Sara Nayar (UA) def. Noemie Oliveras (UF) 6-0, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 2, 4, 3, 5, 1

Final Doubles Results:
1. Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee def. Petra Sedlackova/Margaux Maquet (UA) 6-4
2. Nikola Daubnerova/Rachel Gailis def. Sara Nayar/Klara Milicevic (UA) 7-5
3. Maria Martinez-Vaque/Maria Andrienko (UA) def. Talia N. Gatenby/Noemie Oliveras 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

TEAM RECORDS:
Florida: 6-6, (3-4 SEC)
Alabama: 9-6, (3-4 SEC)

UP NEXT:
Florida will return to Gainesville for a four-match home stretch, spanning from Mar. 20 to Mar. 28. The Gators will host Morgan State, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas.

Morgan State (3-6, 0-0 MEAC):