Freshman Marlee Zein had the victory in her sight.
Leading six games to five in the third set with the match on the line, Zein saw her opponent’s shot sail over the white baseline and celebrated. For the second time this season, the freshman clinched a team victory for the Gators.
No. 31 Florida traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and defeated No. 23 LSU 4-3 to win its first match since March 17. The Gators competed in their eighth 4-3 finish of the season and were on the winning side for just the second time.
“I’m really proud of the whole team for the way we fought tonight, but in particular the freshmen were just tremendous,” coach Roland Thornqvist said in a release. “I think we’ve learned a lot over the last few matches on what kind of toughness it takes to accomplish the goal, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way we came together to get it done.”
Zein wasn’t the only freshman who stepped up on the Bayou, as Sydney Berlin claimed her first singles victory in conference play this season.
Florida (8-8, 5-4 SEC) lost the doubles point early on, yet the sophomore duo of McCartney Kessler and Victoria Emma achieved one of their biggest feats of the season. Kessler and Emma knocked off reigning NCAA doubles champions Eden Richardson and Jessica Golovin 6-3 for Florida’s lone point. The Gators other two duos didn’t do as well with Ida Jarlskog and Tsveta Dimitrova falling to Anna Loughlan and Paris Corley 6-3, while Zein and Berlin lost to Kennan Johnson and Taylor Bridges 6-1.
Florida’s performed better in singles play.
The Gators won the first set on five of the six courts leading to swift straight-set victories for Jarlskog and Berlin. Jarlskog claimed her 11th singles win this season and notched her best win over No. 10 Richardson.
No. 38 Kessler’s five-match win streak came to an end, as she lost to No. 60 Golovin. No. 67 Emma fell to Bridges in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-1). Dimitrova claimed her third conference victory in singles play after defeating Johnson 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 for Florida’s third point.
Zein fought through Corley’s comeback attempt in the third set and secured a crucial break to win the final two games and match for Florida.
“We know going in that a lot of these matches are going to be close ones that may come down to the final court,” Thornqvist said. “Regardless of what happens, it is key that we play with poise and with positive emotion, and tonight we did that.”
Follow Victor Prieto on Twitter @victorprieto_11 and contact him at vprieto@alligator.org.
The doubles team of Victoria Emma (pictured) and McCartney Kessler topped reigning NCAA doubles champions Eden Richardson and Jessica Golovin 6-3 in Friday's win over LSU
