In the third set of the last singles match to decide the championship, Marrit Boonstra was one game away from putting the finishing touches on the ideal ending to her college career.
When the season began, UF women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist said he felt like it had been a long time since 2003, the year Florida won its last national title.
If one were to look at who beat who, a tough match for the No. 3 Gators women’s tennis team might have been anticipated against No. 11 Miami (20-6), but Florida’s speed and athleticism led to a 4-0 victory over the Hurricanes.
Trying to defeat the championship host for the third time in one season proved too difficult a challenge for the No. 6 Gators men’s tennis team (21-5) as the season ended with a 4-2 loss to No. 12 Georgia (20-7) in the round of 16 in Athens, Ga.
The No. 3 Gators women’s tennis team (27-2) may have gotten a preview of how the rest of its NCAA Tournament matches will play out.
The Gators tennis teams schedule top-ranked non-conference opponents in the regular season to prepare for the NCAA Tournament. But in the round of 16 in Athens, Ga., both teams will face a Southeastern Conference opponent.
The Gators tennis teams each held their official senior day ceremonies in April, but for both teams the true senior day came this past weekend.
The score may not indicate it, but the No. 6 Gators men’s tennis team (21-4) was challenged in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second round 4-0 victory over Auburn (12-13).
Another day of doubles dominance, another NCAA victory for the No. 3 Gators women’s tennis team (26-2), this time 4-0 over No. 29 Washington (12-7).
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.
When Sunday’s championship match in the Southeastern Conference tournament was tied, senior Marrit Boonstra came through with a 6-2, 7-5 win to put No. 1 seed UF up 2-1 over No. 3 seed Tennessee.
Both Gators tennis teams continued their dominance of the Southeastern Conference West in Friday’s SEC Tournament action.
Expectations were high when Bob Van Overbeek, Sekou Bangoura, Jr., and Nassim Slilam joined the Gators men’s tennis team.
The Gators tennis teams are both excited for the Southeastern Conference Tournament, they just don’t know who they will play yet.
The Gators tennis teams finished the regular season on a high note with two wins over South Carolina on Saturday.
Daniel Cash may not be very sentimental on Saturday when the No. 6 Gators men’s tennis team (16-3, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) celebrates its seniors in the last match of the regular season against South Carolina.
Freshman Bob Van Overbeek and senior Antoine Benneteau took the pressure off each other in a tight match against Georgia on Sunday to give their coach Andy Jackson his 100th win at home during his UF tenure.
The Florida tennis teams split their matches against Tennessee on Friday.
The Southeastern Conference East standings in both men’s and women’s tennis will be shaped by this weekend’s matches.
The Gators men’s tennis team has grown and proven it can win under the most difficult of circumstances.
Solutions by The State News
