The No. 3 Gators women’s tennis team (24-2) has been named champions twice this season and now the mission to win the third and most important championship begins Friday.
The Southeastern Conference’s regular-season and tournament champions’ first challenge on the path to the NCAA Championship will come Friday at 2 p.m. against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion South Carolina State (13-5)
South Carolina State is on a current four-match winning streak that began with a road upset over ECU 4-3 on April 12.
Florida’s current 17-match winning streak began in February with a shutout of in-state rival FSU. Part of the streak can be attributed to the Gators dominance at home, where they are undefeated.
After finishing the regular season with a three-game road trip and playing the SEC tournament in Athens, Ga., the players are excited to be back on their home court in Gainesville.
“That’s a huge advantage to have all the Gainesville Gators fans right behind us, cheering for us,” No. 9 freshman Lauren Embree said.
Embree, the recently-named SEC Player of the Year, has excelled at home. Seven of Embree’s 16 wins at the No. 1 spot in singles this season came at home after the rough three-loss performance at the ITA Team Tournament in Charlottesville, Va.
Embree is not the only Gator with an impressive win streak heading into Friday.
SEC Freshman of the Year Allie Will has yet to be defeated in the dual-match season in singles play. Will posts a 20-0 record at the No. 2 position this spring.
If the Gators continue their dominance at home and defeat South Carolina State, they will face either Washington or Utah on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the second round.
The No. 6 Gators men’s tennis team (19-4) will also be hosting South Carolina State (14-10) in the first round on Saturday at noon.
Florida is looking to bounce back from a 4-0 loss in the SEC tournament championship to No. 2 Tennessee.
Despite falling just short of two goals for this season - the SEC regular-season and tournament championships - UF men’s coach Andy Jackson has a positive outlook heading into the NCAA Tournament.
“Hosting is something that was a goal and it’s hard-earned, so we’re excited about that,” Jackson said.
If the men’s squad defeats South Carolina State, it may face a familiar foe. No. 31 Auburn is also in Gainesville to face Troy in the first round.
UF won both meetings against the Tigers this season. On March 12, Florida defeated Auburn 5-2 in Gainesville. In the SEC tournament, the Gators won the rematch with Auburn 4-1 in the SEC tournament semifinals in Lexington, Ky.
