Florida sophomore Sydney Berlin was trying to stave off elimination, her team trailing 3-2 to Texas A&M, against sophomore Lucia Quiterio in the third set.
Berlin was volleying until her shot failed to get over the net, resulting in match victory for Texas A&M. She proceeded to toss her racket into the net in frustration.
The No. 36 Aggies overcame losing the doubles point to defeat the No. 38 Gators 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville.
Coach Roland Thronqvist said the team’s inability to hold leads was disheartening.
“We would work so hard to get the lead and then, in just a blink of an eye, we’d lose leads on multiple courts," he said. "And in this league, they’ll punish you.”
He cited his team’s lack of focus for why UF (5-4, 2-2) struggles to keep leads. He thought it played well against Auburn and Alabama but reverted back to how it played earlier in the season Sunday.
To start doubles, Berlin and junior Victoria Emma grabbed Court 3 against junior Dorthea Faa-Hviding and Quiterio 6-4, which brought Berlin and Emma’s record back to even on the season.
No. 58 junior McCartney Kessler and sophomore Marlee Zein found themselves trailing halfway through doubles. They fell behind to the Aggies’ duo of No. 37 junior Tatiana Makarova and sophomore Jayci Goldsmith 4-2. The UF duo stormed back on Court 1, securing the next four games to get the lead 1-0 into singles.
Florida had failed to lose a match after taking the doubles point all season long until Sunday.
In singles, Florida lost four out of six first sets.
Zein lost in the second set to redshirt freshman Jessica Anzo 6-3, forcing a third set.
For the Gators, Ida Jarlskog lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 to Goldsmith on Court 2, tying the match at one apiece. Sunday’s defeat snapped her five-match winning streak.
Next, Faa-Hviding knocked off No. 111 Emma 6-2, 6-2 on Court 3, giving Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2) the 2-1 lead.
No. 54 Kessler then evened the match at two when she defeated Makarova 6-3, 6-2.
The Aggies won on Court 6 reclaiming the lead. Junior Riley McQuaid won against Dimitrova 7-5, 6-3, putting them one win away from capturing the match win.
Finally, Quiterio surmounted Berlin 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to seal match victory for Texas A&M.
Zein’s match was in the third set versus Anzo and went unfinished because the Aggies clinched the match.
Florida heads to Athens, Georgia, next Friday to take on the No. 7 Bulldogs at 4 p.m.
You can contact Zachary Huber at zhuber@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @zacharyahuber.
