GAINESVILLE,FL—The South Carolina State women's tennis team suffered yet another first round defeat, 4-0 to the second-seeded Florida Lady Gators in the 2012 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships held at Linder Stadium at the Ring Tennis Complex on Friday.
“I thought we played very well,” UF head coach Roland Thornqvist said. “I thought we played very well in doubles, made a lot of first serves, played aggressively when we needed to, made pretty much every single return.”
Thornqvist stated, “I don't know why we keep drawing South Carolina State. I mean three years in a row it has to be something. I don't do the draw and I don't know who does either. There has to be a reason for it because purely statistically it shouldn't be possible.”
The Gators (22-1), who improved to 14-0 all-time in NCAA Round of 64 matches, set the tone from the start of doubles play where Florida won 24 of the 25 games played, posting scores of 8-1, 8-0 and 8-0 to earn the doubles point in the match.
South Carolina State (19-1), which has lost to Florida 4-0 in the NCAA first round each of the last three years, came out stronger on the singles courts, but the Gators proved to be too much, as senior Joanna Mather won a 6-0, 6-0 decision against Victoria Khatcei on court three.
Junior Caroline Hitimana gave Florida a 3-0 lead after she tallied her third double-bagel win of the season and captured her team-leading 17th straight singles victory. Sofie Oyen polished off the opening round win with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Laura Bosneag on court four, to clinch the team victory.
Despite, the loss South Carolina State finishes with one of the best records in the country at 19-1 and junior Maria Craciun will have a chance to compete in the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Singles Championship May 23-28 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 17-22).
NCAA Women's Tennis Championships First Round
No. 2 Florida vs. South Carolina State
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex * Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
1. Sofie Oyen/Allie Will (1), UF d. Akilah James/Maria Craciun, SCSU, 8-1*
2. Lauren Embree/Joanna Mather (22), UF vs. Victoria Khatcei/Laura Bosneag, SCSU, 8-0
3. Alexandra Cercone/Caroline Hitimana, UF vs. Katarina Barborikova/Valerina Savina, SCSU, 8-0
Singles (order of finish: 3, 5, 4)
1. Allie Will (1), UF led Akilah James, SCSU, 6-3, 2-0 DNF
2. Lauren Embree (9), UF led Maria Craciun (t-120), SCSU 6-1, 3-0 DNF
3. Joanna Mather (21), UF d. Victoria Khatcei, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0
4. Sofie Oyen (61), UF d. Laura Bosneag, SCSU, 6-1, 6-0*
5. Caroline Hitimana (115), UF d. Katarina Barborikova, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0
6. Olivia Janowicz, UF led Valerina Savina, SCSU, 6-0 DNF
Updated Records: Florida (22-1); South Carolina State (19-1)
NCAA Seeding: Florida – 2; South Carolina State – 49-64
ITA National Ranking: Florida – 2; South Carolina State - none
*indicates clinching doubles/dual match point
