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Thursday, March 28, 2024
Gators men’s tennis will head westward to continue a three-game win streak. Photo from UF-Auburn match Feb. 21.
Gators men’s tennis will head westward to continue a three-game win streak. Photo from UF-Auburn match Feb. 21.

From the swamp of Gainesville to the bayou of Baton Rouge, the Gators’ will is tested once again. Florida tennis prepares to face a worthy opponent Friday —  LSU.

Both of LSU’s teams look impressive, with a combined 15-2 record. The top-ranked women’s squad looks to continue their 7-0 run.

Women’s: Florida (3-4) hosts No. 19 LSU (7-0)

Recovering from a semi-successful trip visiting Alabama and Auburn, the Gators look ahead to snap LSU’s undefeated streak. The all-time record between the SEC rivals stands at a 47-2 with a Florida advantage.

The ITA ranked LSU at No. 19 on Wednesday morning, a promotion from the previous No. 23 spot after it upset  No. 9 Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Gators aren’t on the top 25 after they fell below a .500 winning percentage.

LSU has multiple stars shine on the court during singles play, including No. 83 Sofia Carrington. Carrington played hero for the Tigers against Vanderbilt after she fought through three sets and three tiebreakers to outlast sophomore Emma Kurtz and clinch the Tigers’ win.

As for the Gators, No. 32 McCartney Kessler  two-game winning streak is one of few things keeping Florida’s spirits alive. Kessler scored the only points in the 4-2 loss versus Auburn with wins in doubles and singles.

Florida’s previous outing against the Auburn Tigers wasn’t ideal, but UF claimed the doubles point advantage after solid performances from No. 26 Kessler and Marlee Zein. Auburn’s  singles lineup was too much to handle and steamrolled Florida in four of six singles matches.

First serve for doubles action from Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex begins at 5 p.m. The action will stream with live stats at FloridaGators.com

Men’s: No. 11 Florida (6-1) visits LSU (8-2)

Gators men’s tennis will head  westward to continue a three-game win streak against the unranked Tigers. LSUs 2021 campaign donned an 8-2 record, with the team recording five wins in their last seven duals. 

Before the loss to Auburn’s Tad Maclean and Finn Murgett, the Gators’ duo of junior Sam Riffice and senior Duarte Vale were on an impressive run and won four of their last five matches, with three of them ending in a 6-2 final score.

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Senior Andy Andrade is on fire in singles with his only loss of the year dating back to Jan. 22 against the Arizona Wildcats.

The Tigers’ visit to Lexington, Kentucky, was one to forget after they dropped the ball in a 4-0 sweep. But it shouldn’t overshadow the Tigers 5-2 overpowering Vanderbilt two days before.

Redshirt sophomore Boris Kozlov will return to the courts for a comeback after losing to Vanderbilt’s Macsen Sisam 6-1 and Kentucky’s Caesar Bourgois 6-2.

The first serve will be at 6 p.m. at the LSU Tennis Complex. It will be  streamed with live stats on FloridaGators.com.

Contact Jesse Richardson at jrichardson@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @JesseRich352

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