Facing elite talent is nothing new for the Gators.
It’s been the story all season.
The Florida women’s tennis team has faced eight top-25 teams this season, with half of them coming from the Southeastern Conference.
In those eight matches, the Gators went 6-2 by a combined score of 38-12.
But of Florida’s six remaining matches, four of them pit the Gators against more top-25 teams.
Plus, all six teams hail from the SEC, a conference that produced last season’s NCAA champion in the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Last season, the Commodores defeated the Gators three times on their championship run, becoming the only team to beat Florida in SEC play in 2015.
This season Florida got its vengeance, though, winning 4-2.
But the SEC has improved, as more teams have cracked the top 25 than last season.
The Gators, however, possess depth that helps them combat the improving conference standards.
And it comes via a variety of skill sets. Some players finish fast, like Anna Danilina. And some take their time, like Belinda Woolcock.
But knowing that any player can shoulder the burden of a match-clinching scenario shows that this unit can be successful.
The team’s depth has manifested itself in the form of eight UF players having clinched at least one match this season.
In the coming week, No. 15 LSU and No. 17 Texas A&M come to Gainesville looking to give Florida its first SEC loss.
Against the Tigers, Florida is 41-1 all-time.
Against the Aggies, Florida is just 3-2.
"We’ve got a tough weekend coming up with LSU," coach Roland Thornqvist said.
"After that, we have Texas A&M on Saturday. We’ve had some great matches with A&M over the past years. Bunch of 4-3s."
While both matches will count equally in the conference standing, the Texas A&M match means a little more to the Gators — especially for senior Brianna Morgan.
The two matches this week are the last home matches of the regular season, meaning Saturday’s match against the Aggies is the last home match for Morgan.
Through her four years at UF, Morgan boasts a 59-9 dual-match record in singles play.
Her all-time singles record is 103-32.
Morgan has been a two-time First Team All-SEC selection, a one-time Second Team All-SEC selection and a two-time winner of the Dorothy Anderson Memorial Award.
"Sure, it’ll be emotional for her. It’ll be emotional for me too. I can’t believe it’s been four years already. She’s won a lot of big matches," Thornqvist said.
"But it’s not the wins ... It’s the other stuff. It’s coming to the training ground every day for four years in a good mood.
"No matter what the academic side is or the personal side, (Brianna) comes to practice with a smile on her face and has a positive effect on everyone around her. It’s invaluable. It’s true leadership."
Contact Jake Dreilinger at jdreilinger@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @DreilingerJake.
UF’s Brianna Morgan returns a serve during Florida’s win over USF on Jan. 27, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.
