sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Billy Federhofer returns a volley during Florida’s 5-2 win against Miami on Jan. 19 at Linder Stadium. Federhofer hasn't lost a match since Feb. 9.

Sports

UF blanks Furman in win

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Feb. 3, 2013

Florida had shut out two opponents before facing Furman.

UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.

Sports

Senior earns 99th career singles victory, 100th doubles win

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 3, 2013

Florida senior Lauren Embree snagged her 99th career singles match victory against Baylor on Saturday, but winning was no easy feat.

Sports

Gators achieve three personal bests during Husker Invite

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 3, 2013

Steady improvement and solid outings seem to be themes for the Gators track and field team this season.

Freshman Christian Mercer (25) attempts a shot during Florida’s 87-54 victory against Alabama on Sunday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida snaps five-game skid with win against Alabama

Feb. 3, 2013

Poor shooting and slow starts have plagued Florida during Southeastern Conference play. Freshman Christin Mercer helped change that, ending the Gators’ five-game losing streak in the process.

Florida coach Roland Thornqvist (right) congratulates junior Sofie Oyen (left) and former Gator Allie Will (back) during a match against Duke on March 14, 2012.

Sports

Gators earn third straight shutout of season

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 2, 2013

The No.1-ranked Florida women’s tennis team grabbed its third straight 7-0 victory to open the season, the latest coming against No.15 Baylor on Saturday.

Sports

Youth leads successful first day at Husker Invitational

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 1, 2013

Florida lived up to coach Mike Holloway’s lofty standards on the first day of the 38th Annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Freshman Bridget Sloan sticks a landing during Florida’s 196.575-190.55 win against Ball State on Jan. 4 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida collects first road win of season

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 1, 2013

The No. 1 Florida gymnastics team overcame its road struggles in its second Southeastern Conference road meet Friday at No. 22 Arkansas in front of a Barnhill Arena crowd of 5,278.

UF gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn's freshmen struggled early in the season.

Sports

Gators using depth to find success

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Jan. 31, 2013

Rhonda Faehn has slowly worked out a few wrinkles.

Sports

Florida to be tested by No. 15 Baylor

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Jan. 31, 2013

The Gators haven't allowed a point to their opponents this season, but they also have yet to be tested.

Throwers coach Steve Lemke (left) and coach Mike Holloway walk across the field at Percy Beard Track at Pressly Stadium during the 2012 Florida Relays. Seventeen Gators qualified Sunday for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which are set to begin June 5.

Sports

Underclassmen leading Gators early in season

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 31, 2013

Freshman sprinter Kyra Jefferson, placing in the top three in every event she has tried this year has caught her by surprise.

Coach Amanda Butler draws up a play during a timeout in Florida’s 88-81 loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 24 in the O’Connell Center. UF’s loss to Missouri on Thursday was its fifth straight defeat.

Sports

Florida drops fifth consecutive game in loss to Missouri

Jan. 31, 2013

Finding consistent offense has been problematic for the Gators during Southeastern Conference play.

Jonathon Crawford celebrates after pitching a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman on June 1 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Florida weighing options at closer

By ADAM PINCUS | Jan. 31, 2013

Florida baseball was a sure thing last season.

Senior Brittany Dashiell (left) attempts a shot during Florida’s 18-13 exhibition win against England on Jan. 24 at Dizney Stadium. Dashiell and the Gators defeated Stony Brook 16-9 on Wednesday.

Sports

Senior building on time with U.S. team

Jan. 31, 2013

Like every other game in her career, Florida senior midfielder Brittany Dashiell had coaches and teammates cheering her on. But on Saturday and Sunday at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, they were cheering for Dashiell from the stands.

Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan approaches the mound for a meeting with catcher Mike Zunino (3) and pitcher Daniel Gibson.

Sports

Florida needs lefty in rotation

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Jan. 30, 2013

On Fridays and Saturdays, Kevin O’Sullivan doesn’t have much to worry about.

Olivia Janowicz prepares to return a serve in a match against Duke in 2011.

Sports

Gators bounce back from slow start in win vs. UCF

By ROBERT JUDIN< | Jan. 30, 2013

The Florida women’s tennis team won its 24th consecutive dual match in a 7-0 victory against UCF on Wednesday afternoon at Linder Stadium.

Freshman Danielle Collins returns a serve during UF’s 7-0 win against USF on Jan. 29 at Linder Stadium. Collins teamed with Olivia Janowicz to win the only doubles match for the Gators on Friday.

Sports

Freshmen impress in victory against USF

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Jan. 29, 2013

The Florida women’s tennis team dominated its season opener, defeating USF 7-0 on Tuesday at Linder Stadium.

Josh Tobias throws the ball to first base during Florida’s 9-8 win against N.C. State in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional on June 10 at McKethan Stadium. Against Georgia on Friday, Tobias notched Florida's only RBI of the match on a ground-rule double.

Sports

Outfield spots currently unsettled for Gators

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Jan. 29, 2013

Josh Tobias and Vickash Ramjit know they’ll see the field for Florida this season. They know they’ll be starting, too.

Sports

The 10 most impressive lies in sports history

By Kelly Collar | Jan. 28, 2013

From O.J. to Te'o, here's a comprehensive list of the infamous lies in sports.

Sophomore Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 8-3 win against Florida Gulf Coast on March 10 at McKethan Stadium. The Gators will turn to Gushue to fill the void left by Mike Zunino.

Sports

Sophomore to fill void in new role behind plate

By ADAM PINCUS | Jan. 28, 2013

Taylor Gushue almost hit the lights at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables last season in just his ninth collegiate game. Instead, the freshman settled for an awe-inspiring solo homer.

Senior Lauren Embree hits a ball in Linder Stadium. Embree won her singles match against Alabama in straight sets on Friday.

Sports

Florida begins season eying third-straight title

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Jan. 28, 2013

After winning back-to-back national titles, the Gators are thinking dynasty.