sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Josie Kuhlman called Florida State “a big in-state rival” ahead of Florida’s match with the Seminoles on Saturday in Orlando. “We’re hoping for a really big crowd,” she said.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis team looking to continue dominance over Florida State

By River Wells | Feb. 1, 2018

The year is 2009. The month is February.

Vince McMahon announced last week his intention of resurrecting the XFL, a football league he founded in 2001. The league folded after one season.

Sports

Vince McMahon would like to sell you some mediocre high school football again

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 31, 2018

Hoo, boy.

As a sophomore, pitcher Kelly Barnhill recorded the lowest ERA in the country (0.51) and the most strikeouts per seven innings (13). Her efforts earned her multiple national awards.

Sports

Kelly Barnhill ready to lead Gators on another deep run in 2018

By Mark Stine | Jan. 31, 2018

It’s just over a week until the start of the Florida softball team’s season, but if you walk up to the pool at the O’Connell Center, you just might find UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill doing laps.

Eagles starting left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai has one of the most unique names of the players competing in Super Bowl LII.

Sports

Looking for a fun way to pass the time during Super Bowl LII? Here’s how.

By Dylan Dixon | Jan. 30, 2018

If you see eye-to-eye with me on this year’s Super Bowl matchup, you’re most likely feeling dejected and dispirited.

UF coach Roland Thornqvist had tooled with the idea of changing his lineup away from pairing seniors with freshmen. After his team's success over the weekend, he reconsidered.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis team sticking with senior-freshman doubles format

By River Wells | Jan. 29, 2018

Two hundred eighty-one days.

Andy Andrade is the No. 3 freshman on Florida's depth chart, but coach Bryan Shelton expressed confidence in his young player. “I think a lot of people are going to overlook this guy,” Shelton said.

Sports

‘Don’t sleep on Andy Andrade': Freshman impresses in first week of dual match season

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 29, 2018

Andy Andrade wrapped his arm around his coach and smiled. He looked comfortable and confident. Volunteer assistant coach Scott Perelman had just joined Andrade on the sideline after the freshman concluded a speedy 6-0 first set win on the No. 5 singles court against South Alabama on Saturday. The two sat close on Andrade’s bench. They laughed.

Graduate transfer Paulina Hersler is posting career highs in points per game(12.2), rebounds per game(6.8) and three-point percentage (37 percent) during her time as a Gator.

Sports

Paulina Hersler paying dividends for Gators women’s basketball team this season

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 29, 2018

Before Paulina Hersler came to UF, the graduate transfer started only two games at UCLA and averaged under 11 minutes per game. Now, at a new program under a new head coach, the forward from Sweden has shined throughout the season, playing well in the paint and stretching the floor with her ability to shoot the ball from long range.

Taylor Tomlinson putts during the 2015 Suntrust Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.

Sports

Sierra Brooks shines in Florida debut despite Gators falling to Miami

By Chris O'Brien | Jan. 29, 2018

Going into the 18th hole of the second and final round of the Florida Challenge in Lecanto, Florida, on Monday, UF women’s golfer Sierra Brooks knew she needed to give her team a boost. In a tie for first with Miami’s Dewi Weber, Brooks slammed a shot all the way to the green to set up an eagle attempt.

The Florida swimming and diving teams are competing in the Auburn Invitational this weekend after concluding their dual meet seasons against Tennessee on Friday.

Sports

Gators swimming and diving teams complete dual-meet season, look ahead to Auburn Invitational

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 29, 2018

The dual-meet season for Florida’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded in Knoxville, Tennessee, this past weekend.

Coach Mike Holloway's men's (No. 1) and women's (No. 4) indoor teams will look to capitalize on a fast start to their seasons. “We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”

Sports

Gators track and field teams climb individual rankings after success at Razorback Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 28, 2018

Florida’s No. 1 men’s and No. 5 women’s track and field teams concluded a competitive weekend at the Razorback Invitational on Friday and Saturday with some of the best times and marks in the nation.

Florida catcher/first baseman JJ Schwarz decided to return to school after being selected in the final three rounds of last year's MLB Draft.

Sports

Kevin O'Sullivan: UF baseball "not defending a national championship... It's a different team"

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 28, 2018

Walk by McKethan Stadium this week and listen. Really listen.

Florida’s Alex McMurtry became the first gymnast in UF history to record multiple 10.0s in one meet. “I just had to trust my gut and go for it,” she said.

Sports

Florida moving on from victory over top-ranked Oklahoma

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 28, 2018

In a sold-out O’Connell Center on Friday night, the Florida gymnastics team put on a show for its home crowd. Its efforts didn’t go to waste as the No. 5 Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC) overcame No. 1 Oklahoma 198.150-198.125. In addition to two perfect 10.0s in one night, Florida also took first in three of its four events.

Junior Alfredo Perez persisted through a grueling singles match that lasted an hour and 45 minutes against USF Sunday afternoon.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis team sweeps USF to clinch spot in ITA Indoor Championship

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 28, 2018

Junior Alfredo Perez’s roar echoed inside the Perry Indoor Facility at the Ring Tennis Complex on Sunday. He had just turned the bad fortune of a serve’s awkward bounce off the net into an aggressive backhand winner. The shot kept Perez alive in the first set tiebreaker of a highly competitive match he’d eventually win, 7-6(6), 6-2, over South Florida senior Grayson Goldin.

Senior Josie Kuhlman was the first to win her singles match of the day and helped her team earn a spot at the ITA Division I Women’s Team Indoor Championships in February.

Sports

UF women’s tennis team clinches ITA Indoor Championships berth with win over Louisiana-Monroe

By River Wells | Jan. 28, 2018

Every competing senior on the Florida women’s tennis team won their singles match in a 4-0 rout of Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, leaving UF’s freshmen unable to finish their matches. During Sunday’s matchup with Louisiana-Monroe at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, it was their turn to close the dual-match out.

Florida guard Funda Nakkasoglu's 19 points against Georgia on Sunday wasn't enough to propel the Gators to a win over the Bulldogs.

Sports

Florida women’s basketball team blows fourth-quarter lead, falls to No. 21 Georgia

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 28, 2018

As the final seconds ticked away in the third quarter, Florida clung to a five-point lead. With Georgia dribbling out the clock for the final shot of the period, UF guard Funda Nakkasoglu and forward Haley Lorenzen double-teamed Georgia’s Que Morrison and forced a turnover. Nakkasoglu grabbed the loose ball, raced down the court and banked in a buzzer-beating layup.

Senior Anna Danilina and the No. 3 Gators swept Cal State Fullerton Saturday afternoon in their first dual-match meet of the season. “Everyone was a bit nervous,” Danilina said. “But I think we handled it well."

Sports

Florida women’s tennis team sweeps Cal State Fullerton to advance to ITA Kick-Off Weekend Finals

By River Wells | Jan. 27, 2018

As senior Anna Danilina crouched down awaiting a serve, the home crowd at the Ring Tennis Complex began to clap in unison, a signal to Cal State Fullerton freshman Genevieve Zeidan that the match was about to come to an end.

Coach Mike Holloway expressed a desire for consistency, but he ultimately said he likes the direction of his teams. "We're where we need to be," Holloway said.

Sports

Bates, Holloway dominate headlines for Gators at Day 1 of Razorback Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 26, 2018

The Gators men’s and women’s track and field teams had a solid first day of action Friday at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Freshman Taylor Ault continued her hot start to her Gators career with another pair of first-place finishes in the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle against Tennessee Friday afternoon.

Sports

Gators men’s swimming shines in Knoxville, women’s team struggles

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 26, 2018

Caeleb Dressel racked up three event wins for the men, and freshman swimmer Taylor Ault continued her success in Florida’s dual-swim meet in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday.

Senior Alex McMurtry's two perfect 10.0s led the way for the No. 5 Gators as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma by the slimmest margin possible. She now holds the UF record for career 10.0s.

Sports

Florida defeats No. 1 Oklahoma on strength of McMurtry's pair of perfect 10.0s

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 26, 2018

Alex McMurtry didn’t hesitate. Facing the long stretch of mat ahead of her, the All-American threw her hands above her head before bringing them in close to her chest and breaking into a full sprint. A sold-out O’Connell Center watched as she spun into the air and touched her feet down to the ground in her first of two perfect 10.0s of the night.

Coach Jenny Rowland and the No. 5 Gators get their second opportunity to take down the No. 1 team in three weeks at the O'Connell Center tonight. “The Gators are always up for the challenge, and this weekend is not gonna be any different.”

Sports

Florida gymnastics team faces No. 1 Oklahoma tonight at O'Connell Center

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 25, 2018

For the second time this season, the UF gymnastics team will host a No. 1 team at home. The No. 5 Gators (2-1, 1-1 SEC) are set to take on No. 1 Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) tonight at 6:45 in the nation’s top gymnastics match of the weekend.