Gator Men's Tennis History & Links
Gator Men's Tennis History & Links
Team Highlights
- Florida advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, equaling its best finish ever (also 1991).
- UF ended the year ranked seventh in the nation in the final rankings, its highest finish since the ITA began rankings in 1970. Florida is one of only four schools in the nation to rank in the Top 16 in the final rankings in each of the last nine years (1991-99).
- The Gators reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 1982.
- UF advanced to the postseason for the ninth straight season, including its seventh appearance in the NCAA round of 16 since 1991, tied for the third-best total of appearances nationally.
- Florida claimed a share of the SEC regular season crown, and its third-place finish overall was its best since 1994.
- A school-record three players were named All-American in singles, and UF garnered an all-time best five All-America honors overall.
- Had eight wins over teams that finished in the final Top 20.
- UF's win over Georgia March 14 broke a streak of 27 consecutive losses (spanning over 24 years) to the Bulldogs.
Individual Highlights and Honors
Head Coach Ian Duvenhage
- Region 3 Wilson ITA Coach of the Year
- One of eight finalists for National Coach of the Year
- Captured 300th career collegiate win versus Purdue February 27
Trey Adcock
- Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
- Career-high 20 singles victories in 1998-99
Marcos Asse
- Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
Will Brown
- Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
Amr El Sawaf
- Recipient of Region 3 Tennis Magazine/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award
- One of eight finalists for National Sportsmanship and Leadership Award
- Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
- Ended his career with 137 overall victories (68 singles, 69 doubles), ninth-best in Gator history
- 69 career doubles wins ranks fourth-best in school history
Jeff Morrison
- 1999 NCAA Singles Champion
- Two All-America honors (in singles and doubles) in 1999
- Named the ITA National Player to Watch and the Region 3 ITA Player to Watch
- Named 1999 SEC Player of the Year
- First-team All-SEC in singles and doubles
- Set Gator single-season record with 47 singles victories
- Ranked second in singles and ninth in doubles (with Nathan Overholser) in final ITA rankings
- Became first player in UF history to win 30 or more singles matches in back-to-back seasons
- 77 career singles wins already ranks tied for the eighth-best mark in school history
- 21 doubles wins with Nathan Overholser tied for fifth-best single-season mark in UF history
- Advanced to NCAA round of 16 in doubles (with Overholser)
- Chosen ITA Player of the Month for March
Justin O'Neal
- Named All-American in singles for second time (also 1997)
- First-team All-SEC selection in singles
- Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
- Became just the second player in UF men's tennis history to receive All-America, All-SEC and SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition in the same season
- Ranked 17th in singles in final ITA rankings
- 144 career wins (78 singles, 66 doubles) is currently the fifth-best total in Gator history
- 78 career singles victories is seventh-best mark at UF, while 66 doubles wins is tied for seventh in school history
- 34 singles victories was third-best single-season mark in Gator history
- Advanced to round of 16 at NCAA singles championships
Nathan Overholser
- Named All-American in singles and doubles
- Selected first-team All-SEC in doubles
- Second-team All-SEC choice in singles
- Ranked 34th in singles and ninth in doubles (with Jeff Morrison) in final ITA rankings
- 21 doubles wins with Jeff Morrison tied for fifth-best single-season mark in UF history
- 28 singles victories tied for seventh-best single-season total in school history
- Reached quarterfinals in NCAA singles championships and round of 16 in doubles (with Morrison)
| YEAR IN REVIEW | |
| Record: | 20-6 |
| NCAA Finish: | Tied for 5th |
| Final Poll Rankings: | 7th ITA |
| SEC Finish: | Tied for third overall, tied for regular season title |
| SEC Tournament Finish: | Lost in the quarterfinals |
| All-Americans: | Three student-athletes with five honors - Jeff Morrison (singles and doubles), Justin O'Neal (singles), Nathan Overholser (singles and doubles) |
| All-SEC: | Three student-athletes with five honors - - Jeff Morrison (first team both singles and doubles), Justin O'Neal (first team singles), Nathan Overholser (second team singles and first team doubles) |
| SEC Academic Honor Roll: | Five student-athletes (league high) - Trey Adcock, Marcos Asse, Will Brown, Amr El Sawaf, Justin O'Neal |
| Letterwinners Returning/Lost: | 7/1 |
| Departing Players: | Amr El Sawaf |
| Statistical Leaders | |
| Singles Victories: | Jeff Morrison 47 |
| Doubles Victories: | Jeff Morrison 26 |
| Dual Singles Victories: | Justin O'Neal 24 |
| Dual Doubles Victories: | Jeff Morrison 21 |
| Clinching Victories: | Amr El Sawaf 5, Justin O'Neal 5 |
| Wins Over Ranked Opponents: | Jeff Morrison 27 |
| 1998-99 Schedule & Results | ||
| Record:20-6 overall, 9-3 SEC (tied for third) | ||
| Final National Ranking: 7th | ||
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan.30 | South Florida(#57) | W,5-2 |
| Jan.31 | Fla. International(#64) | W,6-1 |
| Feb.12 | Charleston Southern | W,7-0 |
| Feb.25 | Furman | W,7-0 |
| Feb.27 | Purdue(#33) | W,5-2 |
| Feb.28 | Michigan State(#54) | W,6-1 |
| Mar.3 | Florida State(#55) | W,5-2 |
| Mar.5 | Texas(#7) | W,5-2 |
| Mar.8 | at Duke(#T10) | L,4-3 |
| Mar.9 | at Wake Forest(#68) | L,4-3 |
| Mar.14 | Georgia(#5) | W,5-2 |
| Mar.15 | Arkansas(#40) | W,7-0 |
| Mar.19 | at Mississippi(#6) | L,4-3 |
| Mar.21 | at Mississippi St.(#T17) | W,5-2 |
| Mar.24 | LSU(#28) | L,4-3 |
| Mar.26 | at Kentucky(#32) | W,7-0 |
| Mar.28 | at Tennessee(#20) | W,5-2 |
| Apr.2 | at Auburn(#72) | W,5-2 |
| Apr.4 | at South Carolina(#11) | W,6-1 |
| Apr.7 | Alabama(#18) | W,6-1 |
| Apr.18 | Vanderbilt(#30) | W,6-0 |
| Apr.23 | %Alabama(#20) | L,4-3 |
| May14 | $Miami(#50) | W,4-0 |
| May15 | $South Florida(#28) | W,4-1 |
| May22 | #vs. SMU(#10) | W,4-2 |
| May23 | #vs. UCLA(#1) | L,4-1 |
| KEY: | % = SEC Championships at Gainesville | |
| $ = NCAA Regionals at Gainesville | ||
| # = NCAA Team Championships at Athens, Ga. | ||
Opponent ranking in parentheses at time of match
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