GAINESVILLE, FLA—The South Carolina State (16-3) women's tennis team had to wait a six-hour rain delay before finally taking on the top-ranked women's team in the country the Lady Gators of Florida (26-1) in the first round of the NCAA Tennis Championships at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
Despite, getting off to a slow start Florida managed to pulled things together and earn the doubles point to defeat South Carolina State, 4-0 for the third time in school history and second-straight year.
“I thought we played a much-improved South Carolina State team,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “They were much better than they were last year. They competed harder and certainly hit the ball much better than they did last year. The first 5-10 minutes of doubles, the balls were whizzing by our heads. I don't think we were ready for it. We finally settled down and ultimately played pretty well, particularly our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The one double was coming around but I felt the scoreboard washed it a little bit since the other two matches ran away. I felt South Carolina State did a really good job.”
UF sophomore Caroline Hitimana (Waterloo, Belgium) provided the clinching singles victory, as she posted a 6-0, 6-0 victory against sophomore Laura Bosneag (Romaina). Allie Will (Boca Raton, Fla.) gave Florida a 2-0 lead when senior Daria Sekerina(Russia) bothered by injury retired after the Gator sophomore won the first set, 6-1, in 35 minutes.. Lauren Embree (Marco Island, Fla.) was the second off the court, as she posted a 6-0, 6-0 shutout against junior Suhaila Jad (Spain) on court two.
“We played a great Florida team that seems to get better every year,” said SC State head coach Hardeep Judge. “I am really proud of our team's efforts they played really hard.”
SC State closes out the season 0-3 against the The Lady Gators in school history.
NCAA Women's Tennis Championships First Round
South Carolina State vs. No. 2 Seed Florida
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex * Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Final Score: Florida 4, South Carolina State 0
Doubles
1. #2 Alex Cercone/Allie Will, UF vs. Daria Sekerina/Maria Craciun, SCSU 4-5 DNF
2. #45 Lauren Embree/Sofie Oyen, UF d. Suhaila Jad/Sabrina Mendez, SCSU, 8-3*
3. Olivia Janowicz/Joanna Mather, UF d. Akilah James /Laura Bosneag, SCSU, 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2*
Singles
1. #7 Allie Will, UF vs. Daria Sekerina, SCSU, 6-1, ret.
2. #17 Lauren Embree, UF d. Suhaila Jad, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0
3. #42 Joanna Mather, UF led Akilah James, SCSU, 6-1, 2-3 DNF
4. #54 Alex Cercone UF led Maria Craciun, SCSU, 6-1, 0-1 DNF
5. Sabrina Mendez, SCSU led #53 Olivia Janowicz, UF, 6-3, 1-2 DNF
6. Caroline Hitimana, UF d. Laura Bosneag, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0*
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 6*
Updated Records: Florida (26-1), South Carolina State (16-3)
*indicates clinching doubles/dual match point
